Segrada Familia interior

Gaudi developed a first draft in a Gothic style with organic inspired forms of nature to disguise the Gothic buttresses and devised the use of columns in the shape of tree trunks, which allow weight distribution of the roof and is aesthetically pleasing.

The inside of the building of the temple is an organic space that resembles a forest. In 1987 the foundation started and was completed in 1997 where work proceeded to the side vaults.

The temple has a Latin cross plan, with five naves of 90 meters in length, and three naves of 60 meters, the nave has a width of 15 meters by 7.5 m and a total of 45 meters high with the height of the crossing is 30 meters.

The aisles contain Cantoria for choirs. The apse is a lobed, ambulatory environment with the presbytery. The temple will have a total of 36 columns, ranging between 11.10 and 22.20 meters high, with bases of polygons on several sides depending on location, 6 aisles, 8 nave, 10  towers of the Evangelists, 12 tower of Jesus.

Construction materials vary from stone to mountain granite, basalt or porphyry. Hyperbolic vaults are constructed with Venetian mosaic tiles. Gaudi used the technique of vault enclosed or Catalan vault, consisting of overlapping layers of bricks with mortar.

The covers are pyramidal shaped, topped by a torch and a lantern. The windows are designed to deliver a smooth and harmonious light, creating an environment for meditation, and are abstract geometric form.

The stained glass windows are by Joan Vila i Grau, Gaudi did the lighting and acoustic depth studies to obtain perfection of the sound and light inside the temple. Gaudi also designed the lighting, furniture and liturgical objects from the Sagrada Familia from the sacristy cabinets, the benches of the officiates, faldistorios, pulpits, confessionals, tenebrarios, lecterns, Easter candles amongst other objects.

Like the exterior, the interior has a great religious significance, like the dome of the apse covered with a mosaic representing the garment of God covering the sky, and in the highest triforium is a lamp hanging from the apse with seven arms that symbolizes the spirit Santo.

The altar is framed by a triumphal arch with the Calvary of Jesus, thus completing the Holy Trinity. The triumphal arch bearing the singing of Gloria by the Ordinary of the Masses and a canopy surmounted by a cross, out of which a vine weaves its branches throughout the canopy and lined with 50 lampadari lamps as in the San John Lateran.

In the triforium are the facades of the Nativity and the Passion with St. Joseph and Mary surrounded by angels and the crucifix from the altar completes the Sagrada Familia. In the vaults will be anagrams of the angels and Jesus, Joseph and Mary. The interior will also include the Gospel and celebratory mass “mass dominica” held every year corresponding with the epistles Advent, Christmas, seventy, Lent, Easter and Pentecost and the canonical hours of prayer, each with its final hymn:

The Matins, Miserere and Te Deum laudamus, the Laudes: Benedictus Dominus Jesus Israel, the Vespers, The Magnificat and the complete: Nunc dimities.

The columns inside have varied symbolism and four are devoted to the evangelists, the twelve surrounding are the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul near the altar, and the rest of the dioceses the apostolic work continuers with those of Catalonia Barcelona, Tarragona, Lleida, Girona, Vic, Urgell, Solsona, Tortosa and Perpignan and the rest are of Spain Mallorca, Valencia, Zaragoza, Granada, Burgos, Seville, Valladolid, Toledo, and Santiago while in the nave and the side the five continents, each column takes the patron saints of each diocese.

The heavenly Jerusalem is represented with the Lamb, the tree of life, the fruits of the Holy Spirit, angels, birds, branches and leaves and the palm as a symbol of martyrdom and laurel as a symbol of intelligence. In the windows of the aisles are the parables of Jesus, I am the light, truth and life, I am the Resurrection, I am the fountain of living water, I am the vine, I am the good sower, I the good shepherd and finally, the overhang of the interior side walls of the temple are tiles depicting fish swimming around to the altar with their mouths open and going back to the host representing as the faithful hunger for the Eucharist.