Sagrada Família opens its doors for La Mercè with 20,000 free tickets

Barcelona is gearing up for its annual La Mercè festivities, and the Sagrada Família is joining the celebration by offering 20,000 free tickets for the public to visit Gaudí’s masterwork.

Four open days will "bring the basilica closer to the public" and showcase the current state of the construction works.

This year, 20,000 tickets will be raffled for the opportunity to visit the interior of the church on September 19, 20, 21, and 24, from 4pm to 8pm (3-6pm on Saturday, September 20).

Visitors will be able to explore the most iconic spaces of the basilica and view one of the sculptural scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary: The Wedding at Cana.

The three-meter-tall stone piece will be part of the Chapel of the Assumption, where other scenes will also be installed, including The Presentation of Mary at the Temple, The Death of Saint Joseph, and The Dormition.

Anyone interested in attending the open days can register to enter the ticket lottery from 10am on September 8 until 9pm on September 14, via a form available here in Catalan and here in Spanish.

The results of the draw will be communicated to the winners on September 15.

Barcelona's tallest building

The unfinished Sagrada Família basilica, designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, is now the tallest building ever built in the Barcelona urban area after reaching a height of 155.58 meters in July, getting closer to its projected height of 172.5 meters.

When completed, Sagrada Família will not only be Barcelona's tallest building but also the world's tallest church, overtaking the Ulm Minster in Ulm, Germany, which spans 162m.