Tram Tragedy: 100 Years Since the Death of Antoni Gaudi

On 10th June 1926 one of the world’s best-known architects, Antoni Gaudi, died after being hit and knocked down by a Barcelona tramcar three days earlier. His most famous legacy is the still incomplete Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, which is now the tallest church in the world, and Spain’s most visited monument.

Gaudi took over as the church’s chief architect in 1883, shortly after its construction began and, having completely transformed its design, devoted the rest of his life to its completion. Even so, less than a quarter of the immensely complex project had been finished at the time of his death, aged 73. But, as he is reported to have said about the time it was taking, “My client is not in a hurry”.

A deeply religious man, Gaudi was walking to the church he attended for daily prayer and confession when he was struck by a passing tram and knocked unconscious. From the shabby state of his clothing, he was initially thought to be a beggar, and it was some time before he was taken to hospital in a taxi for rudimentary care. When he was finally recognised, the following day, it was too late for doctors to save him.

By the time of his accident, Barcelona’s two main tramway companies had combined to form Tranvías de Barcelona (TB). A heritage tramway – Tramvia Blau – has survived to this day and is one of only two remaining first-generation tramways in Spain, though it is currently closed for major upgrading of its infrastructure. Its fleet of tramcars with their distinctive blue livery dates back to 1904-15 and would have been operating at the time of Gaudi’s death.

As for the Sagrada Familia itself, work continued on its construction in the years after Gaudi’s death despite the ravages of the Spanish Civil War and Second World War. By the time of this year’s centenary, the final Jesus Christ spire is due to have been completed in time for a ceremonial opening.

This leaves the Glory façade and a grand entrance stairway of Gaudi’s original conception still to be realised, but the former is expected to take another decade of work. As for the staircase, this would require the demolition of 3,000 apartments that have been constructed in the meantime and the rehoming of their 10,000 inhabitants, so its completion is still a matter of speculation.

Thanks to Museum Volunteer Jim Dignan for producing this article:

Image references:

Image 1: https://www.gaudiclub.com/ingles/i_update/mar05.asp#16)

Image 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramvia_Blau#/media/File:Old_tram_at_Barcelona_pic04.JPG

Image 3: Photographer: C messier.