2-370-084 - Samuel Magal/Sites & Photos/Heritage Images

The Sagrada Familia Temple, Barcelona, Spain, 2007. Detail of the Passion Facade featuring a statue of the Apostle James (Jacobus) on the bell tower representing him. Construction of this unique temple began in 1882, and one year later Antoni Gaudi was appointed Project Director. He worked on the project for over 40 years until his death in 1926. The temple has three facades (named 'Nativity', 'Passion' and 'Glory'), each bearing four souring towers. Eight of the twelve bell towers of the facades, dedicated to the Apostles and having a height exceeding 100 metres, are already built. The four belfries awaiting construction are those of the Facade of Glory, the 170-metre central dome in honour of Jesus Christ, the Tower of the Virgin Mary (125m) and the Tower of the four Evangelists. The four towers over the Passion Facade (southwestern lateral facade) represent the Apostles James (Jacobus), Bartholomew, Thomas and Philip. Seen here is the statue of the Apostle James (Jacobus) at a height of 148 feet on his respective bell tower. The statues of the Passion Facade are by the sculptor Josep Maria Subirachs. Subirachs began his work in 1987 following the ideas of Gaudi but not his style.