Sagrada Familia's Central Tower Completed in Barcelona
After more than a century of construction, the central tower of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica has been completed. The milestone marks a pivotal moment in the ambitious architectural project, bringing Antoni Gaudí’s vision closer to reality, although the full structure is still years from being finished.
The recently completed Tower of Jesus Christ stands at 172.5 meters, making the Sagrada Familia the world's tallest church. Gaudí intended for the highest point of his creation to be just shy of the nearby Montjuïc hill, believing that human work should never surpass the work of God. Topping the central tower is a massive four-armed cross, measuring 17 meters high and 13.5 meters wide. The cross is designed to be illuminated and will feature a viewpoint inside, accessible by a spiral staircase and a glass elevator. Construction on the Sagrada Familia began in 1882, with Antoni Gaudí taking over as chief architect the following year and radically transforming the design. Gaudí dedicated the last 43 years of his life to the project, but at the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the basilica was complete. Progress has been historically slow, relying solely on private donations and facing significant interruptions. During the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, anarchists set fire to the crypt and destroyed Gaudí's workshop, including many of his original plans and models. While the central tower is complete, work on the basilica continues. The entire structure was previously anticipated to be finished by 2026 to coincide with the centenary of Gaudí's death. However, delays, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have pushed the final completion of all decorative elements to potentially 2034 or later.
