fbpx

KidsKonnect

Sagrada Familia Facts & Worksheets

The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is a large unfinished Roman Catholic church in Barcelona.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Social Studies /Geography /Landmarks & Sights /Sagrada Familia Facts & Worksheets
Premium
Sagrada Familia Worksheets
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is a large unfinished Roman Catholic church in Barcelona. Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, his work on the building is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it as a minor basilica.

See the fact file below for more information on the Sagrada Familia or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Sagrada Familia worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA

  • Some architects knew that they would never live to see their buildings completed. One of the most famous examples of this is la Sagrada Familia, a Catholic basilica located in the heart of Barcelona, Spain that was designed by the noted architect Antoni Gaudí.
  • The construction for la Sagrada Familia began in 1882. It is still unfinished today, and currently has a completion date between 2025 and 2030.
  • They say that the best things are worth waiting for. Gaudi was so committed to his design that he was willing to wait his entire life, knowing that even then he would never see the finished product.

THE FACADES

  • Although la Sagrada Familia is technically unfinished, most of the base is complete. It’s been over a century since work began on la Sagrada Familia, and over that time, this church has astounded countless people for its ornate symbolism and distinct layout.
  • One of the places we best see Guadí’s intense religious devotion is in the facades. La Sagrada Familia has three monumental facades, each connected to a moment in life of Christ: the birth, the Passion/Death/Resurrection, and His eternal glory.

THE FACADE OF BIRTH

  • The first of the facades to be completed was the Facade of Birth, focusing on the birth of Christ. It contains four bell towers and three major doors, or portals, with an intricately designed program of human, plant, and animal figures.
  • The three portals of this facade are named Hope, Mercy, and Faith – three pillars of Catholic dogma.
  • In its entirety, this facade presents an allegory of the constant change of nature and existence, and therefore the incalculable majesty of the creator.
  • Every person, plant, and creature in this facade is symbolic in some way, even the chameleons carved into each side of the facade represent change.

THE FACADE OF PASSION

  • The next of Guadí’s facades to be completed was the Facade of Passion, representing the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ.
  • This facade has an almost skeletal feel, with pillars resembling bones and expressive sculptures of Biblical figures acting out the last week of Christ’s life.
  • These sculptures, created by Josep Maria Subirachs, are noted for their sharp angles and flat surfaces that create a dramatic presentation.
  • Amongst the enigmatic symbols of this facade include a repetition of numbers that can be combined in 310 different ways to add up to the number 33 – the age of Christ at his death.

THE FACADE OF BLISS

  • The final of the three facades, and the only one which is still yet to be completed, is the Facade of Bliss.
  • This facade represents the eternal glory of Christ, features scenes of the Last Judgment, Hell, and eternal bliss, and contains 7 entrances (a sacred number in Christianity), capped with four towers. Although unfinished, these towers are already taller than any of the others on the church.
  • Gaudí’s obsession with height was a testament to the elevated glory of God on high. Yet, Gaudi believed that humans should never try to outdo God, the estimated height of the tallest tower is set to be only a few meters shorter than the elevation of the tallest hill in Barcelona.

THE INTERIOR

  • The completion of the interior and the consecration were a great moment for Barcelona. Finally, the ground-breaking design of the brilliant Antoni Gaudí can not only be admired from the outside but inside too, and without scaffolds and machine noise.
  • The church building of the Sagrada Familia is based on the classical construction of a five-aisled basilica. The middle ship clearly towers the others, each of the five is assigned a gate to the unfinished glory facade.
  • There are also two side portals that lead to the penitential and baptistry chapel. The altar is located behind the nave, inside the apse, in the light of the many windows.
  • Just as the facades are characterized by a multi-layered symbolism, the floor plan of the church is full of symbols. Every door, every pillar and almost every surface has its own specific or symbolic meaning.
  • These allusions and parables refer to the individual Catalan and important Spanish dioceses, to every church in Latin America and to each of the five continents.

Sagrada Familia Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Sagrada Familia across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Sagrada Familia worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família which is a large unfinished Roman Catholic church in Barcelona. Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, his work on the building is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it as a minor basilica.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Sagrada Familia in Barcelona Facts
  • Sagrada Familia Facts
  • Notable Events
  • Postcards
  • True or False
  • Dream Vacay
  • Perfect Match
  • SFBS Tour!
  • Word Search
  • Breaking News
  • Keyword Narrative

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Sagrada Familia Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 1, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources