Twisted columns and carved inscriptions on the Passion facade of Sagrada Familia

This close-up detail shows the sculptural elements of the Passion facade of the Sagrada Familia, characterized by a more austere and geometric style compared to the Nativity facade. The twisted columns in light stone feature faceted surfaces creating plays of light and shadow. An inscription in Gothic characters, part of the iconographic program of Christ's Passion, is carved in a block of pink stone. The architectural elements intertwine in a composition reminiscent of bones, a deliberate reference to the suffering of the crucifixion. This facade was designed by Gaudi but realized after his death by sculptor Josep Maria Subirachs.

Barcelona, Sagrada Familia, detail, columns, sculpture, Passion, Gaudi, Subirachs