The Passion façade

The Passion facade

The Barcelona audio-guided tour stops you before the Passion facade of the Sagrada Familia. Devoted to the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, it invites contemplation and is discovered with the gravity its subject deserves.

The work of Josep Subirachs

The facade is the work of the Catalan sculptor Josep Subirachs. Faithful to the wish of Gaudi, who wanted to express the harshness of the sacrifice, it is all angular lines and bare forms, conveying pain. Its very modern style sparked controversy in the 1990s, some judging it too far from the rest of the basilica. It depicts the Passion, that is, the last moments of the life of Christ.

What there is to see

The sculpted groups of the facade tell, with sobriety and tension, the stages of the Passion. It is the counterpart of the Nativity facade, gentler and more abundant, while the Glory facade, still under construction, is intended to become the main and most monumental entrance. This deliberate contrast between the facades expresses the spiritual journey at the heart of Gaudi's work.

Practical information

The Passion facade can be seen on the west side of the Sagrada Familia, in the Eixample district. It can be admired freely from the outside; access to the interior of the basilica is ticketed, with hours that vary by season. As a religious building, it is approached with respect and contemplation.

What does the Passion facade represent ?

It depicts the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, in an angular and bare style intended by Gaudi.

Who sculpted the Passion facade ?

The Catalan sculptor Josep Subirachs, whose modern style sparked debate in the 1990s.