Planned construction of an underground bullet train threatens to destroy one of Spain's most spectacular tributes to God, say opponents of the train.The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia (Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family), Antoni Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece, stands just seven feet from the proposed construction site.
This has prompted numerous public appeals to protect the basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage site that attracts an estimated 10,000 visitors a day.
The plan for the bullet train -- approved last year by Barcelona Mayor Jordi Hereu, Catalan Premier Jose Montilla and the public works ministry -- aims to link the city to the Spanish capital of Madrid and to France. But opposition to the excavation, which some reports indicate could begin this summer, is strong.
Opponents argue that construction activity so close to the famous church and vibrations from the moving train could destabilize the building's foundation and eventually cause it to crumble. Head architect Jordi Bonet, who has spent more than 40 years working on the basilica, has said publicly that any damage would be irreparable.
Three years ago, a tunnel excavated to extend a subway line collapsed in the Carmel neighborhood of the city, severely damaging nearby businesses and homes, some of which were later demolished.
Barcelona resident Roger Puig is among the opponents.
"The majority here is completely against it because we cannot forget what happened in Carmel," he said.
Officials at the Sagrada Familia say they are still waiting to receive details of the railway project from its builders but, nevertheless, are against it.
"We support the suspension of the project and presented our case against it to the National Court of Spain in October," Sagrada Familia spokeswoman Anna Perarnau said. She added that there are alternatives to creating a tunnel near the church "but it is not our responsibility to think of another route for the train."
Jose Antonio Marco, a curator at the Archdiocese of Barcelona, said he also objects to the construction.
"This does not have to happen. They are already making holes in the ground (to test the plan). We can only trust the church will not be damaged," he said.
But Catalan architect Luis Sans, who is not associated with the basilica, says a nearby railway should not affect the basilica if plans are carefully executed.
"What happened in Carmel is still in our memories, but every construction project comes with a risk. That is why we have offices for technical and quality control, to guarantee the correct execution of the project," Sans said.
"The new railway will help rehabilitate and bring necessary business to a forgotten part of the city, which has not integrated well with the rest of Barcelona," he added. "This is the last grand-scale intervention proposed by the city government to help transform the area."
The towering basilica, begun in 1882, was the brainstorm of world-renowned Spanish architect Gaudi, who took over as chief architect of the project two years later. Gaudi was a Catholic who renounced secular art in his later years and gave most of his life to building the church. When questioned about the lengthy construction period, he would answer, "My client is not in a hurry."
Among the church's most striking features are its intricate sculptural facades. The west side depicts the suffering and death of Jesus, the east is dedicated to his birth, and the south side, yet to be completed, will represent the glory of Jesus. A total of 18 towers are planned, representing the 12 apostles, four evangelists, Mary and Jesus. The central and tallest tower will symbolize Christ and stand a little over 590 feet.
Gaudi died in 1926 before overseeing Sagrada Familia's completion, which has been set for the 100th anniversary of the architect's death in 2026. Construction was interrupted by the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1935, during which time original models and plans for the basilica were destroyed by Catalan anarchists. Today's design is based on reconstructions of the lost work and modern adaptations. Work on the basilica resumed in the late 1950s. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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