I was just there in April. It was the most indescribably beautiful building I’ve ever seen in my life. I was almost overwhelmed to the point of tears by the light coming in from the stained glass windows. Pictures and drawings don’t hold a candle to it.
It truly is wondrous. It really speaks to something deep down and primordial. Like looking up a beautiful tropical rainforest canopy in sheer amazement.
Also happened to me in Antwerp cathedral and St Barbara in Kutna Hora (Czechia), even though I'd been in dozens of Euro cathedrals by then. Actually, no "almost" in my case.
Aesthetic ecstasy is a thing.
OH! and the big "cry every time I went in because I went back 4 times while I was in Aachen" as Aachen cathedral. If you take a chair by the main door, you can hear the gasp of every person on impact.
I’ve been to St. Barbara! It was beautiful. I like all those old gothic cathedrals, which is what Sagrada Familia is but with a modernisme twist. Something about the intentional nature-focused design of Sagrada Familia puts it over the top for me.
