Besides being Gaudí's masterpiece and the most visited monument in Spain, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona has just been chosen as the best in the world. The international fame is to blame for being the most admired (and visited) within modernism. And that's even though it is still unfinished since construction began in 1882. It is estimated to be fully completed in 2026, when it will have 18 towers in total: 12 for the apostles, four for the evangelists, one for Jesus, and one last one for the Virgin Mary.
Nevertheless, it doesn't need to be incomplete to have received the award at the Remarkable Venue Awards 2024 (RVA) by Tiqets, the leading platform for tickets to museums, monuments, and attractions. Gaudí's building won the award for the best monument of the year at the ceremony, which focuses on places that manage to surprise their visitors time and time again. In this way, excellence in the tourism industry is celebrated by recognizing places and experiences from six different countries: United Kingdom, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal. The evaluations and opinions of the portal's users are taken into account.
In Spain, the Sagrada Familia stands out, as mentioned, a work accustomed to receiving endless awards (and records). It has even been classified as the tallest modernist church in the world thanks to the spire of the tower of the Virgin Mary, crowned by a star at 138 meters high. However, it is expected that the tower of Jesus will surpass it when the interventions are completed, reaching 172.5 meters. The Sagrada Familia competed with other icons in Spain such as Cívitas Metropolitano, the cave El Soplao, and Casa Milà - La Pedrera.
1. Best museum: National Art Museum of Catalonia (Barcelona).
2. Best family experience: Isla Mágica (Seville).
3. Best monument: La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona).
4. Best activity: Flamenco at the tablao Torres Bermejas (Madrid).
5. Best hidden gem: Museum of Forbidden Art (Barcelona).
Additionally, there were four other Spanish winners at the ceremony held at the Modernist Site of Sant Pau in Barcelona. Among them, the National Art Museum of Catalonia was chosen as the best museum globally. According to Luuc Elzinga, president and founder of Tiqets, this space "is an emblematic place that captivates many visitors each year with its exhibitions. The choice as the best museum of the year is based on more than just its popularity; it is a combination of excellent customer reviews, strong online commitment, and the constant growth it experiences every year."
Another Spanish winner was the flamenco tablao Torres Bermejas (Madrid), which received the award for the best activity. Likewise, the theme park Isla Mágica (Seville) won the best family experience, while the Museum of Forbidden Art (Barcelona) stands out as the best hidden gem.
As for the international nominees, places like the Museum of Romanity in Nimes, Les Bassins des Lumières in Bordeaux, Disneyland Paris, or the abbey Le Thoronet stand out in France. From the United Kingdom, essential sites are the National Gallery in London or Windsor Castle. From Italy, don't miss the Pitti Palace in Florence or the Royal Palace of Turin, while from the Netherlands, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam or a trip to Keukenhof, with a visit to a tulip farm included.