Barcelona’s world-famous Sagrada Familia church is celebrating the spirit of Christmas this year with a special programme of activities for young and old to bring people together and remember the story behind this time of year.
One of the main features of its festive schedule is a series of workshops for children (aged 6-12) and their families, taking place on weekends, public holidays and other selected days (prior reservation necessary).
The activity consists of a visit to the church with a particular focus on the Nativity Façade, which tells the story of the arrival of Jesus in the world, followed by a crafting session.
On 15 December at 5pm, a Christmas concert takes place at the Sagrada Família featuring the Orquestra Simfònica Julià Carbonell and three choirs from around Catalonia and Mallorca.
A variety of Christmas music will be performed including Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, John Rutter’s Gloria and traditional Catalan compositions.
From 21 to 23 December, the Nativity Façade will be illuminated during four 15-minute sessions starting at 7.30pm, giving visitors the chance to appreciate the detail and design of this unique creation that reflects the first Christmas.
Although renowned as a project of eminent Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926), construction of the Basílica de la Sagrada Família began in 1882 under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar.
Gaudí took over in 1883 and the basilica became the focus for the rest of his life. Building work continues on the Sagrada Família to this day with a predicted completion date of 2026.
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When: 6 December -5 January, 2019
Where: Basílica de la Sagrada Família
More info: sagradafamilia.org