National Geographic: The Soul of Spain Page #4

---

in the works of Gaudi

has been entrusted with completion

of the building

As much a sculptor as an architect

Gaudi preferred to make models

rather than work from drawings

Using them

Bonet is able to continue according

to Gaudi's concept

A model of the nave

the central part of the church

reveals columns whose design was

inspired by shapes found in nature

They will support the ceiling of the nave

filling the shell that has stood empty

for over a century

With all of these Gaudi original

elements

it is possible to continue it

and to build in his place the nave

But it is not so easy to continue it

but I hope to have or to honor in the

same spirit of Gaudi

And for them we are working with all our

forces to make the best

Gaudi said the nave of this temple

is a forest with the columns

as the trees

And then the light comes through

this forest of columns

little columns

big columns

It's a forest

Gaudi's dream was that this church

would be a beacon of the Christian faith

Every year hundreds of thousands

from throughout the world

visit his unfinished poem in stone

a structure one architectural historian

has called the greatest ecclesiastical

monument of the last one hundred years

Holy week. Across the nation

cities and villages ready for a ritual

of faith

that occurs in few places outside Spain

and nowhere with more passion that

in Seville

Manolo Acosta dresses in the garb of

an ancient religious brotherhood

For me, Holy Friday is one of the

fundamental things of my life...

so important that I am thinking about

that day the whole year

With his brotherhood he will accompany

sacred figures form their neighborhood

church to Seville's cathedral and back

Thousands gather in anticipation of

the moment

when a priceless, handcarved image of

the Virgin emerges from the cathedral

Platforms called pasos support lavish

figures of the sorrowing Virgin Mother

Christ, and scenes of his passion

From Palm Sunday until Easter

processions retrace the Stations

of the Cross

Proceeding blindly under the directions

of a guide

which may weigh up to two tons

Marching with their brotherhoods

thousands of penitents atone for sins

committed through the year

They wear masks and hoods

designed centuries ago to conceal the

sinners from all but God

As the people of Spain approach

the 21st century

they seek to define their new identity

strengthened by the timeless elements

of Spanish life

the ardor for spectacle and beauty

the rich history, proud land

and enduring traditions that are

the soul of Spain

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes