The beautiful grounds that flank the church
Our tour started with an explanation from the project's (new) main architect, a very old man who has been working on the project for a long time (since it started in 1880?) But seriously, he had many interesting things to say and he gave a brief history. The project started in the 1880s as a common Gothic cathedral. Gaudi took over the project later and changed everything. He worked on it obsessively until he death in the 1920s. Work stopped on it when the Civil War broke out in the 1930s and many of Gaudi's models were destroyed along with his studio. The church sat, totally unfinished (only one tower facade was finished) until the 1950s. Work has been on going since. 
Ongoing construction of the naive
The bleak and strange Passion Facade. Completed in the 1980s, some people love it, some hate it. Its hard to see, but the crucifix is horizontal with Jesus hanging off it by his wrists...I think this is really gruesome.
After our talk outside, we headed inside to check out the naive. It was spectacular!
At the top of this photo, you can see where the ceiling stops and the sky flows in...This is not the way that it will look for long, but there is something very poetic about it...i almost wish they would leave this side open to the ocean.
The Ocean view from this side as viewed later in our tour.
The columns reminded me of some sort of bones or ligaments inside of some strange animal. Gaudi loved organic shapes. They should call this the cathedral of bones.
A closeup of the ceiling and its unique joints
It is strange to see the old, finished parts mixed with the construction. Here, old stained glass windows pour colored light onto the scaffolding.
Next, we headed up to the top of the naive and to the roof to view more construction. We took this rickety elevator.
The roof has spires that are capped with alternating sculptures of grapes with wine glasses & wheat with communion hosts. This is one of the giant hosts awaiting placement.
The giant grapes. This is a detail that I think is cheesy, but also cool. A lot of things in this project seem a little cheesy but are also very cool...especially once you figure out the symbolism.
The terminus of the naive moving forward. From the darkness of the spires I believe that they have been there for at least 80 years.
Our group on the roof
You can see our site from the roof really well. It is very close (the giant blue bullet and the area right in front of it)
On the roof, we were really close to the construction of one of the two spires that will crown the church. This one was huge, but it is the smaller one.
Intricate brick work inside of the spire...it's great to see that at least here, the methods of old are still utilized.
Next we headed down to the basement museum. Passing through the naive again, I snapped a few pictures. 
Stained glass windows with no glass
The museum was very interesting and helped explain some of the details in the church.The newer facade from the 80s has some very strange robot like characters on it...this sketch shows how the new architect was trying to relate the roof sculptures from another Gaudi project to this one...I think he was unsuccessful and the sculptures are weird.
There were many drawings of the yet to be finished parts of the church. Plans include a gigantic spire with a huge cross that people could actually go inside of. This is a drawing of the one facade that has still not been complete. It looks like it will be very cheesy with gumdrop shapes and Terracotta clouds. Only time will tell...
There were many drawings of the yet to be finished parts of the church. Plans include a gigantic spire with a huge cross that people could actually go inside of. This is a drawing of the one facade that has still not been complete. It looks like it will be very cheesy with gumdrop shapes and Terracotta clouds. Only time will tell...
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