This Roman Catholic church is dedicated to the heart of Jesus Christ. It’s built of stone and resembles old fortresses, but also the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris. The bronze statue of Jesus Christ reminds its visitors of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ statue of Corcovado.
Designed in 1902 by architect Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia, the construction of the church took 59 years. The building is a mixture of Romanesque and Neo-Gothic styles, but you can also spot some decorations influenced by Modernism in the crypt. Note the stained glasses and four rose windows in the aisles.
The Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor de Jesús [Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus] owes much of its attraction to its privileged location, since it is situated on the summit of Tibidabo, the highest mountain in the Collserola mountain range. Which means its silhouette is clearly recognisable from many of the city streets that have a view of the mountain, while from the temple one can enjoy some of the most beautiful views of the Catalan capital.The idea to erect a Catholic church on the peak of Tibidabo emerged during the end of the nineteenth century, just when construction for the residential urbanisation in this upper area of the city began, following a proposal by the Catalan entrepreneur Salvador Andreu. A few years later, at the beginning of the twentieth century, Avinguda del Tibidabo avenue was opened, and members of Barcelona’s upper class established their elegant residences there; others, however, preferred to settle in the also splendid Passeig de Gràcia.
