Long lines and the Sagrada Família

I have lived in Barcelona more than twenty years, always in the same neighbourhood, called Sagrada Família, thanks to the amazing and still under construction temple designed by Gaudi. For many years, the works were so slow, that no one here believed that would be ever finished; but the increasing number of tourists along the last fifteen years has dramatically raised the funds available, speeding up the building works.

On November, there was a big mess -and controversial- with the visit of the Pope to Barcelona, specifically for converting the temple into a Basilica. This event raised the awareness of the many citizens about the status of the works. Because of expectation generated, it was agreed that the Basilica would be open for free all the four Saturday mornings during January.

Response? The neighbourhood was interestingly transformed each of these weekends; indeed, thousands and thousands of people formed zigzag -and often totally chaotic- lines all along the surrounding streets; waiting times reached around four hours at its peak. Trying to follow the lines and feel the busy environment became a nice way to spend the sunny Saturday mornings.

When the organisers, wisely but late, decided to open in the afternoons as well, an interesting niche of opportunity was open at luchtime (i.e. from 14h00 to 15h30). And it worked; no line required, and quite peaceful time indoors. If someone, fifteen years ago, would had told me that, someday, I would walk under Sagrada Família's ceiling, I definitely would not have trusted. Of course, you may like it or not, but you definitely get impressed.