The surprising mistake in the towers of the Sagrada Familia that few people know about

The Sagrada Familia, one of Barcelona’s most recognisable symbols and a masterpiece by Antoni Gaudí, conceals a detail that surprises even many experts: an evident asymmetry in the bell towers of the Nativity façade. Although for years it was believed to be theological symbolism, it is in fact the result of a simple setting-out error during construction.

The memoirs of draughtsman Ricard Opisso, a direct collaborator of Gaudí, reveal that when the plans were transferred to the site, a technical mistake was made that left the two bell towers on the left-hand side closer together than those on the right. For a long time, many visitors interpreted this irregularity as part of the temple’s complex symbolic language, but the explanation is much more down-to-earth.

According to Opisso, Gaudí’s reaction on discovering the error was completely unconcerned. The architect played down the matter and stated that even monuments such as the Parthenon contain variations in the distances between columns. His response reflects his unorthodox view of architectural perfection and his ability to integrate imperfection into the creative process.

The asymmetry meant that the later Passion façade had to follow the same pattern in order to maintain the structural coherence of the whole. By contrast, the future Glory façade is expected to recover symmetry, creating a contrast with the earlier ones.

Ricard Opisso, who began working with Gaudí at the age of 12 and documented his experience until 1904, left valuable testimony about this episode. In addition to his collaboration on the Sagrada Familia, he stood out as an illustrator in publications such as L’Esquella de la Torratxa, La Campana de Gràcia and Blanco y Negro.

His memoirs offer a human, intimate view of Gaudí, moving him away from the idea of an infallible genius and showing his ability to live with his own mistakes.