Visiting the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Tibidabo): A Guide to Barcelona’s Best Viewpoint
Walk Through
There are multiple ways of going to the top. Option 1 is taking the shuttle bus from Plaça de Catalunya to the Tibidabo summit, costing about €3. Secondly, my favorite, but more pricey, the finucular. First, take the train to Av. Tibidabo, from there take the 196 bus toPlaça Doctor Andreu. And lastly the finucular. to reach the highest point of the journey.
Start at the entrance to the crypt, have a look at the mosaic tympanum and the detailed carvings beneath it. After viewing the outside, head into the crypt, where the most impressive part of the temple is, the mosaic laid scenes. They are very detailed and colorful.
Done looking around, you can get the elevator to the top of the temple. Personally, I didn't find it worth the time; you already have a great view from the balcony above and at the edge of the amusement park.
Head out of the crypt to take the stairs at the side of the crypt up to the temple above. Here you have a great view of Barcelona. The interior of the temple is a reflection of the outside, with its white columns and geometric shapes.
When we were planning our trip to Barcelona, I didn't expect much of the Temple. But after some research, we decided to have a look for ourselves.
When we arrived, the first thing that caught my eye was the colorful tympanum, with the lush trees next to it. And secondly, the white stones, most churches just aren't so 'clean' anymore, we later found out it was only built in the last century. The entire temple is quite unique; it's in a theme park, situated on top of a hill, features a crypt with a separate entrance, and stairs leading up outside the church walls.
Tickets & best Time
If you're visiting in the spring, I do recommend visiting after 5 to get the best lighting, and there will be a beautiful glow on the city below. You do have to get a ticket for the funicular or the bus to reach the top of Mount Tibidabo. At the temple, you can decide if you want to ride the elevator up, seeing as that comes at an additional fee. The entrance to the temple and the lower crypt is completely free of charge.
TIP: wander to the front of the amusement park Tibidabo for an amazing view of Barcelona, with la Sagrada Familia in its centre.
Website: https://tibidabo.salesianos.edu/en/
Recommended time spent: 1-2 hours
Adres:
Ctra. de Vallvidrera al Tibidbo, 111, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Price:
Free of charge
Opening hours:*
- Apr–May, Sept: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Jun–Aug: 9:00 AM to 9:30 PM
- Oct–Mar: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
*(always check for changes)
A bit of history & architecture
The temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is located on the summit of Mount Tibidabo, at the outskirts of Barcelona. The crypt was built between 1903 and 1911, and the temple between 1915 and 1951.
The lower base of the structure is of a Romanesque fortress, built from stones of Montjuïc. The first thing you see is the Gothic tympanum, laid with detailed mosaics, that tells the story of the spiritual protection of the city, region, and country. Under that is the entrance to the crypt, which is widely decorated with religious sculptures.
The upper church is reached by the two grand stairways on either side of the crypt. The church is topped by a dome that holds the statue of the Sacred Heart.
The church is modernly decorated, with white stone columns and a groin vault ceiling. On the contrary, the crypt is an intimate room with low ceilings, intricate murals, and alabaster carvings. The crypt also shows about 5 detailed mosaics describing biblical scenes and Spanish saints.
Hello!
I'm Amber, a female traveler from the Netherlands with a deep curiosity for the world and a camera to capture it. For me, travel isn't just about the destination, but more about the journey and the beauty of the place. I’m always drawn to beautifully designed buildings, long train rides, cozy mornings, and an inspiring hike.
MORE ABOUT ME
