This is how the Sagrada Família appeared in 1906, only 24 years after construction first began. In 1906, the Sagrada Família rose from the largely undeveloped outskirts of Barcelona, surrounded by open fields instead of the bustling cityscape seen today. Just 24 years into construction, the basilica consisted mainly of the completed crypt, the apse walls, and the early sections of the Nativity façade, all built under the direction of Antoni Gaudí. Because the project depended entirely on private donations, construction advanced slowly. The soaring towers that now define the Sagrada Família were still many years from becoming a reality, with much of Gaudí’s ambitious vision yet to be built.(Historic Vids)