Barcelona's Sagrada Familia has taken another step toward completing its years-long construction. Find out why the completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ was a historic event, how the temple became the tallest church in the world, and when Antoni Gaudí's project is scheduled to be finally completed

One of the most famous architectural symbols in the world is nearing completion. Barcelona has officially completed the construction of the Tower of Jesus Christ - the central and tallest tower of the famous Sagrada Familia basilica, work on which has been ongoing for over a century.

The event became especially symbolic, as it took place in 2026 - exactly 100 years after the death of the author of the project, the legendary Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi.

On June 10, 2026, Pope Leo XIV personally arrived in Barcelona to consecrate the new tower during a solemn mass attended by thousands of believers, representatives of the Spanish government and members of the royal family.

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A construction that lasted almost a century and a half

The history of the Sagrada Familia began back in 1882. A year after the start of work, the project was taken over by the young architect Antonio Gaudí, who devoted more than 40 years of his life to the temple.

After the architect's death in 1926, construction was repeatedly stopped due to lack of funding, political upheavals and the Spanish Civil War, during which some of the original drawings and models were lost.

Despite numerous difficulties, the project was continued by subsequent generations of architects, engineers and craftsmen, who tried to recreate Gaudí's vision as accurately as possible.

The architect himself once joked about the slow pace of work:

“My client is in no hurry.”

By “client,” Gaudí meant God.

The tallest church in the world

The completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ was a historic event not only for Spain, but also for world architecture.

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After the installation of a five-tier ceramic cross, the height of the structure reached 172.5 meters. This allowed the Sagrada Familia to officially become the tallest church in the world, surpassing the famous Ulm Cathedral by about ten meters.

The cross itself was also an engineering achievement. The structure, about 17 meters high, was manufactured by a German company specializing in facade technologies. In the dark, the cross is illuminated, and the rays of light are visible from many areas of Barcelona.

At the same time, the architects deliberately did not make the temple higher than the Montjuic hill, which rises above the city by 177 meters. This decision corresponds to the philosophy of Gaudí, who believed that human creation should not surpass nature.

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Consecration of the tower on the centenary of Gaudí's death

The solemn consecration ceremony took place on June 10, 2026 - exactly a hundred years after the architect's death.

During the service, Pope Leo XIV called the Sagrada Familia an “architectural masterpiece” that combines faith, art and human talent.

The event was attended by King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia, government representatives and thousands of guests from around the world. After the ceremony, a large-scale light show dedicated to the creative legacy of Antonio Gaudi took place above the basilica.

Sagrada Familia became only the third basilica visited by Pope Leo XIV after his election to the Holy See.

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Why is the temple still not finished?

Despite the completion of the main tower, the construction of the Sagrada Familia is still ongoing.

The implementation of several large-scale elements is ahead:

- construction of the Facade of Glory - the main entrance to the basilica;

- construction of additional bell towers;

- creation of a grand staircase;

- landscaping of the surrounding area;

- completion of individual decorative elements.

Currently, the project management is focused on the full completion of the work by approximately 2035, although the exact date has not yet been announced.

Tourism remains the main source of funding

The Sagrada Familia remains one of the most visited monuments in Europe and the most popular tourist location in Spain.

In 2025, a record 4.9 million people visited the basilica. It is ticket sales and donations from tourists that provide financing for the construction, since the project does not receive permanent state funding.

The annual budget for the work is estimated at approximately 25 million euros.

Thanks to the resumption of international tourism after the pandemic, the pace of construction has accelerated significantly, which allowed the completion of the most complex part of the project - the Tower of Jesus Christ.

An architectural symbol that continues to make history

The Sagrada Familia has long gone beyond the boundaries of an ordinary religious building. Today, it is one of the most famous architectural symbols on the planet, attracting millions of tourists, pilgrims and art lovers every year.

The completion of the main tower has become a landmark event for Barcelona, ​​Spain and world cultural heritage. At the same time, the history of the temple is not yet over - almost a century and a half after the start of construction, the Sagrada Familia continues to write new pages of its unique history.

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Reminder! Spain is tightening the rules of conduct for tourists in popular resorts due to mass tourism, noisy parties and discontent of local residents. Majorca and Ibiza already have new fines for drinking alcohol in public places, night noise and disturbing public order, and hotels are changing the rules of the all-inclusive system. We have already told about the new restrictions for tourists in Spain in 2026 and what can now lead to fines of thousands of euros.

Photo – https://www.dw.com/uk/hram-sagrada-familia-i-hrest-made-in-germany-foto/a-77475024

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