Three facades, two of them built
The Sagrada Família is planned with three monumental facades. The Nativity facade faces east and the Passion facade faces west. Both are finished. The main one, the Glory facade, faces Carrer de Mallorca towards the sea and has not been built.
You enter through the Nativity facade on Carrer de la Marina. If you want to compare the two finished sides, walk around the building and look at both from the street.
Nativity, Passion and Glory compared
Dates and status according to the foundation's information.
| Nativity facade | Passion facade | Glory facade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side | East | West | Main facade, Carrer de Mallorca, towards the sea |
| Start | Work from 1891 | Foundation 1954 | Not started |
| Towers | Barnabas tower 1925, the other three in 1930 | Bell towers 1976 | Four planned: Andrew, Peter, Paul and James the Elder |
| Sculpture | Nativity scenes | Josep Maria Subirachs, from 1986; cross on the gable in July 2018 | Seven bronze doors planned (Subirachs) |
| Status | Built | Built | Last phase, planned narthex |
Our picks: tours of the facades
Two guided tours with entry and an outdoor walk that explains the facades.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided tour with express entry
Entry and a 75-minute tour, with time to look at both facades from outside. Towers are not included.
Check availability →Fast-track guided tour
Entry, a guide with earphones and free time inside the basilica afterwards. Towers are not included.
Check availability →
Sagrada Família decoded walking tour
An outdoor walk explaining the facades. Entry to the inside only with the interior option.
Check availability →Tickets and tours for the facades
Guided visits and entry tickets that cover the Nativity and Passion facades, with live prices and availability.
The Nativity facade, east
The only facade Gaudí saw under construction.
Work on the Nativity facade started in 1891. In 1925 the Barnabas bell tower was finished. It is the only tower that Gaudí saw completed. The other three towers of this facade followed in 1930.
The sculptures show scenes from the birth of Christ. Look closely at the stone, and then look at the details of the pinnacles on top.
The Passion facade, west
Angular figures by Josep Maria Subirachs.
The foundation of the Passion facade was laid in 1954. The bell towers were completed in 1976. Josep Maria Subirachs created the sculptures from 1986 on. A cross was placed on the gable in July 2018.
The figures are angular. The facade is dedicated to the Passion of Christ, and the sculptures differ clearly from those on the Nativity side.
The Glory facade: the last big phase
It will become the main entrance. It does not exist yet.
The foundation calls the Glory facade the last construction phase. The plan includes a narthex, four bell towers and seven bronze doors, designed by Subirachs. It would face Carrer de Mallorca.
There is an open dispute over the staircase that would cross Carrer de Mallorca, as reported by the newspaper Ara in 2025. In February 2025 Ara also reported a construction time of ten years without the figures. This is an independent report, not an official schedule. There is no official completion date for the basilica, so do not rely on any year you read elsewhere.
Which side do the towers look over?
If you want to climb a tower, you choose a side.
Passion tower: city centre
The tower of the Passion facade looks towards the city centre.
Tower tickets →Inside the basilica
The two sides also differ inside: bluish glass on the Nativity side, orange and red glass on the Passion side.
Inside the Sagrada Família →The full story
For the dates of the towers and the history of the construction, see the timeline.
History and completion →How to see the facades
Most of the facade experience happens outside, before you enter.
The Nativity facade is on Carrer de la Marina, where individual visitors also enter. Allow time before your slot to look up at it from the street. The Passion facade is on the opposite side of the building. Walk around the block to see it before or after your visit, because once you leave the building you cannot enter again with the same ticket.
The Glory facade side, on Carrer de Mallorca, is where you see the largest gap. This is the future main entrance, and construction there is the last phase. If you visit in 2026, you also see the new Tower of Jesus Christ above the crossing. At 172.5 m it was blessed on 10 June 2026, but it is not open to visitors and is not included in any ticket.
If you want a close-up view of the Nativity or the Passion side from above, a tower ticket takes you up one tower. Children under 6 are not admitted to the towers, and bags must go into a locker first. See the ticket types for prices.
Sagrada Família facades: frequently asked questions
How many facades does the Sagrada Família have?
Three are planned: Nativity (east), Passion (west) and Glory. Only the Nativity and the Passion facades are built.
Which facade is the main entrance?
For visitors, the entrance today is at the Nativity facade on Carrer de la Marina. The future main facade is the Glory facade on Carrer de Mallorca, which is not built.
Who made the sculptures on the Passion facade?
Josep Maria Subirachs, from 1986. He also designed the seven bronze doors planned for the Glory facade.
When was the Nativity facade built?
Work began in 1891. The Barnabas tower was finished in 1925, the only tower Gaudí saw completed. Three more towers followed in 1930.
When will the Glory facade be built?
There is no official date. It is the last construction phase, and the staircase over Carrer de Mallorca is disputed.
Which tower should I climb, Nativity or Passion?
One ticket covers one tower. The Nativity tower looks east, the Passion tower looks towards the city centre. Pick the view you prefer, and remember that towers can close in bad weather.