Gaudi´s Sagrada Familia

Gaudi loved puzzles and symbolism, hiding symbols in the decoration of the Sagrada Familia. Here, we have a look at some sculptures of animals on the Sagrada Familia and their hidden meaning.

The peacock

It is the ultimate symbol of vanity and pride, of how fragile the earthly appearances are as well as the essence of power and royalty. A beautiful animal whose only purpose in life is to show off, always a slave to its external physical and the adulation of the others. Located in the Charity Portal (Portal de la Caridad)

The pelican

The pelican represents for Christians the sacrifice for others. The legends says that the pelicans, in case of need, hurt his chest to his own blood feeding their young, so it becomes the symbol of the Christ-Eucharist. In the Sagrada Familia the pelican is located in the Facade of the Nativity (Fachada del Nacimiento) at the cypress tree. The original piece of alabaster is now in the museum as it was in a poor condition and had to be replaced by a marble copy. 

The Pigeon

It is the symbol of peace and hope. It is the personification of the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in the Scriptures, and it appears on the Representations of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are also social animals who do not fear the presence of man and live with him. In the Sagrada Familia we find them in the cypress tree of the Nativity Façade (Fachada del Nacimiento).

Well, in 3d anyway. This video portrays a beautiful 3D representation of a finished Sagrada Familia, which is great for those of us who are unlikely to still be around by the time it is finally finished.

Casa Batlló is a mansion situated on Passeig de Gracia 43 in Barcelona that Antoni Gaudí restored on behalf of its owner, Josep Batlló Casanova. Originally the owner wanted to demolish the thirty-years-old house, which was designed by Emilio Sala Cortés and build a completely new one, but Gaudí convinced him to leave the original building and concentrate on giving it a completely new and fresh form.

The building is located in the affluent neighborhood of Barcelona and was originally designed for the middle class. It was built in 1877, and the reconstruction took place between 1905 to 1907. Gaudí, who controlled the renovation work by himself (he was standing on the street all the time), gave the building a very unusual appearance, as he did for all of his buildings.

Created in 1714, the Ciutadella was a fortress built for Felip V to control the city during the war of the Spanish succession. For the Catalans, this Ciutadella was the icon of the Central government therefore, in 1870 the Ciutadella were demolished and a park were created for the 1888 World Fair.