The Sagrada Família is one of the most famous and unusual cathedrals in the world. Located in Barcelona, this masterpiece has been under construction for over a century and remains unfinished.
This quiz looks at the design secrets, history, and engineering of the basilica. You will see questions about Antoni Gaudí’s original models, the symbolism of the spires, and the funding of this massive project.
When you finish, you can explore more famous buildings, learn about sacred architecture, or browse our quizzes on major famous landmarks.
In which city is the Sagrada Família located?
Seville, Spain
Seville, Spain
Madrid, Spain
Madrid, Spain
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Spain
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal
Who was the primary architect who took over the design of the Sagrada Família in 1883?
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí
Joan Miró
Joan Miró
Antoni Gaudí
Antoni Gaudí
The architectural style of the Sagrada Família is primarily a unique blend of which two movements?
Gothic and Art Nouveau
Gothic and Art Nouveau
Industrial and Postmodern
Industrial and Postmodern
Minimalism and Brutalism
Minimalism and Brutalism
Neoclassical and Baroque
Neoclassical and Baroque
Gaudí drew his greatest inspiration for the organic shapes and structures of the basilica from what source?
Modern weaponry
Modern weaponry
Nature
Nature
Geometric shapes
Geometric shapes
Political movements
Political movements
How many grand facades, each representing a distinct phase of the life of Jesus, is the basilica designed to have?
Two
Two
Five
Five
Four
Four
Three
Three
In what year did the construction of the Sagrada Família officially begin? Francisco de Paula del Villar was the original architect.
1888
1888
1885
1885
1880
1880
1882
1882
What is the primary symbolic purpose of the multiple spires planned for the basilica?
To mark the boundary of the cathedral grounds
To mark the boundary of the cathedral grounds
To symbolize the connection between earth and heaven
To symbolize the connection between earth and heaven
To provide extra storage space
To provide extra storage space
To act as lightning rods for the city
To act as lightning rods for the city
How do the interior columns of the basilica innovate on traditional Gothic architecture?
They have no specific structural purpose, only decorative
They have no specific structural purpose, only decorative
They are designed to look like trees and forest canopies
They are designed to look like trees and forest canopies
They are modeled after Renaissance vaults
They are modeled after Renaissance vaults
They are strictly made of solid steel frames
They are strictly made of solid steel frames
How did Antoni Gaudí die in 1926, leaving much of his work on the basilica unfinished?
Tram accident
Tram accident
Illness during construction
Illness during construction
Natural causes
Natural causes
Falling from scaffolding
Falling from scaffolding
How has the construction of the Sagrada Família been primarily funded for most of its history?
Government tax grants solely
Government tax grants solely
Private funding and ongoing donations
Private funding and ongoing donations
Fees from the sale of the building to the city
Fees from the sale of the building to the city
A large endowment from the Vatican
A large endowment from the Vatican
Which of the Sagrada Família’s facades was the only one constructed under Gaudí’s direct supervision before he died?
The Passion Facade
The Passion Facade
The Glory Facade
The Glory Facade
The Apse Facade
The Apse Facade
The Nativity Facade
The Nativity Facade
Gaudí famously used what type of structural curve to distribute weight efficiently without the need for external buttresses?
Pointed arches
Pointed arches
Flying buttresses
Flying buttresses
Catenary arches
Catenary arches
Tudor arches
Tudor arches
Which Sagrada Família facade, known for its harsh, angular, and expressionist sculpting, represents the suffering of Christ?
The Glory Facade
The Glory Facade
The Nativity Facade
The Nativity Facade
The Passion Facade
The Passion Facade
The Apse Facade
The Apse Facade
What is a ‘funicular model’, one of Gaudí’s most ingenious design tools used for his architectural work?
A set of mirrors used to project two-dimensional drawings onto the ceiling
A set of mirrors used to project two-dimensional drawings onto the ceiling
A mathematical formula used to calculate the heights of different towers
A mathematical formula used to calculate the heights of different towers
A physical model of hanging strings and weights used to determine the optimal shape of arches
A physical model of hanging strings and weights used to determine the optimal shape of arches
A clay sculpture used to detail the miniature decorative motifs of the facades
A clay sculpture used to detail the miniature decorative motifs of the facades
When completed, how many spires will the Sagrada Família have in total?
14
14
16
16
12
12
18
18
During which conflict were many of Gaudí’s original designs, models, and plans for the basilica destroyed?
Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
World War I
World War I
Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
World War II
World War II
Which will be the tallest spire of the Sagrada Família upon its final completion?
The Virgin Mary spire
The Virgin Mary spire
The St. Paul spire
The St. Paul spire
The St. Peter spire
The St. Peter spire
The Jesus Christ spire
The Jesus Christ spire
Because the Sagrada Família is an expiatory temple, its construction has historically been funded solely by which source?
European Union heritage grants
European Union heritage grants
Spanish government subsidies
Spanish government subsidies
Private donations and ticket sales
Private donations and ticket sales
Vatican financial support
Vatican financial support
Including the cross atop the tallest spire, what will be the intended ultimate height of the Sagrada Família?
172.5 meters
172.5 meters
170.5 meters
170.5 meters
174.5 meters
174.5 meters
176.5 meters
176.5 meters
What specific instruction did Gaudí leave regarding the final height of the basilica in relation to the city’s terrain?
It is limited by local building height regulations
It is limited by local building height regulations
It is meant to match the height of St. Peter’s Basilica exactly
It is meant to match the height of St. Peter’s Basilica exactly
It is restricted by soil composition constraints
It is restricted by soil composition constraints
It is designed to be just one meter shorter than Montjuïc hill in Barcelona
It is designed to be just one meter shorter than Montjuïc hill in Barcelona
What technological advancement in the late 20th century significantly accelerated the complex construction process of the basilica?
The decision to use mass-produced synthetic materials exclusively
The decision to use mass-produced synthetic materials exclusively
The discovery of lost gold in the foundations
The discovery of lost gold in the foundations
The arrival of modern Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technology
The arrival of modern Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technology
An increase in state-funded tax subsidies
An increase in state-funded tax subsidies
In which year did the construction directors aim to complete the main structure of the basilica to mark the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death?
2032
2032
2030
2030
2028
2028
2026
2026
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