Sagrada Família

Barcelona is the home of Catalan modernism, and no name looms larger than Antoni Gaudí. His Sagrada Família, begun in 1882 and still under construction, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most visited monument in Spain.

The tours in this collection connect the basilica with Gaudí's wider modernist city and the historic old town, so you understand how Barcelona's landmarks — ancient, medieval and modern — fit together.

Inside, the columns branch like trees and the stained glass throws blue and green light on one side of the nave and orange and red on the other. A guide helps you read the two finished façades: the Nativity, which Gaudí built himself, and the stark Passion façade opposite. Exterior tours spend their time on those façades and on how the building has been paid for and built over 140 years.

The Sagrada Família can be visited all year round. Spring and autumn bring the most comfortable weather for combining the basilica with a walking tour of the city, while summer is the busiest and warmest season.

Early morning and late afternoon are ideal — the light through Gaudí's stained-glass windows is at its most spectacular and the area is quieter than at midday. Booking ahead is strongly recommended, as timed entry to the basilica sells out quickly.