By Scott Shephard
"The Holy Family" is in the heart of Barcelona, my favorite city in Spain (though I've only spent time in a total of 5 Spanish cities). It was begun in the 19th century and in 1883 the controversial and perhaps visionary architect and artist Antonio Gaudi took over the task of completing the church. Gaudi died in 1926 and the church is still unfinished. The official "La Sagrada Familia" web site says that "the church could be finished some time in the first third of the 21st century." To me it seems to be Barcelona's equivalent of Korczak Ziolkowski's "Crazy Horse" monument in that both are being funded entirely by private donations and both are taking forever to complete.
As a side note, the Alan Parson's Project recorded a concept album called "Gaudi." Check it out on iTunes. And, as long as I'm meandering, did you know that Alan Parsons was the sound engineer for Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon," which is considered one of the best recorded albums ever made (as far as sound engineering is concerned)?" You can check that out on iTunes as well. The Alan Parson Project is perhaps best known for providing the music used by the Chicago Bulls when they introduced their players during the Michael Jordan years. Maybe they still use it. . . . The song is called "Sirius."