"Visiting Barcelona, I was struck by the Basílica de la Sagrada Família: a Catholic church and living monument to Antoni Gaudí that has been under construction since 1882, with Gaudí spending more than 40 years shaping its vision. From the outside, the tangle of spires, cranes, and intricate stonework is part of the draw—a visible testament to a passion project still very much alive and an evolving story told in sculpture, light, and shadow. Inside, the nave rises like a forest canopy supported by branching stone trunks as Gaudí intended to bring the natural world in, while sunlight filters through stained glass that shifts from cool greens and blues in the morning to fiery ambers and reds by evening. Some towers are still being built but already offer panoramic views framed by the structure, and 2025 may be the last year to see the main structure unfinished before its expected completion in 2026, about 100 years after Gaudí’s passing." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines