The Glory Facade of the Sagrada Família: a step forward in its final design

There is still one part of the Sagrada Família to be defined: the Glòria façade, which will become the main entrance to the temple. Currently, this space is still pending intervention. To advance the process, the Construction Board has selected three creators to present their projects: Miquel Barceló , Cristina Iglesias and Javier Marín . All three have a long career in sculpture and monumental art, which seems to make them fit for this ambitious challenge. In fact, the Temple Board approved, last Monday, March 24, to commission sketches from the three finalists to assess their proposals before making a final decision.

Among them, Barceló has been the most explicit in his desire to participate in the project. He has long expressed his interest in intervening on the facade of the Gloria with a ceramic mural and, for this reason, has contacted those responsible for the basilica to offer his collaboration. The decoration of this facade will be defined by a theological commission and an artistic commission, which will establish the guidelines that the selected artists must follow. This would not be Barceló's first contact with religious buildings, since his ceramics in the Cathedral of Palma have become one of his most outstanding works. He is currently working on three tapestries for the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. As for Cristina Iglesias, she is the author of the monumental doors of the Prado Museum, while Javier Marín designed the main altarpiece of the Cathedral of Zacatecas.

Mural de Miquel Barceló a la Capella del Santíssim, Palma de Mallorca.

Before any of these artists can begin working on it, it is necessary to specify what they want to represent. This facade must narrate the journey from the earthly world to the heavenly, following the idea outlined by Gaudí, but which he did not leave fully defined. The design foresees the incorporation of one hundred figures that will explain concepts such as heaven and hell. According to the president of the Construction Board, Esteve Camps, Gaudí conceived this facade on three different levels: earthly, spiritual and heavenly. Therefore, the intention is for at least three sculptors to participate.

At the same time, the Sagrada Família is making progress on other parts of the project. The Jesus Tower, the tallest in the temple, is nearing completion and is expected to be completed by the end of this year, to be inaugurated in June 2026, coinciding with the centenary of Gaudí's death. In addition, work began in 2025 on the vertical elevation of the Gloria façade, including the first columns that will support the four towers planned in this area of the temple. This façade represents the last major phase of the project, and it is estimated that its construction could be completed within ten years, not counting the decorative elements.

There are still some aspects to be finalized, such as the construction of the bridge that would cross Carrer Mallorca, a project that depends on agreements with the neighbors who could be affected. However, what is clear is that the Glòria facade will be the next major objective in the evolution of the Sagrada Família, and will become the focal point of the work in the coming years.

Façana de la Glòria. © Zowy Voeten