In brief
The Sagrada Família in Barcelona has officially become the tallest church in the world after the recent installation of a cross on its central tower, bringing its height to 162.91 meters. Designed by Antoni Gaudí, construction of the basilica began in 1882 and is projected to be completed by 2026, coinciding with the centenary of Gaudí's death. The church will ultimately reach a height of 172 meters once all elements are finalized.
The Sagrada Família has become the tallest church in the world, after workers placed the first part of a cross at the top of its central tower.
Now measuring 162.91 metres tall, the Spanish basilica has officially pipped the record from the Ulm Minster in Germany, which has held the crown since 1890.
Designed by acclaimed architect Antoni Gaudí, the place of worship has been under construction in the centre of Barcelona for more than a century, with the main building due to be completed next year.
The central Tower of Jesus Christ will grow with the addition of the rest of the cross over the next few months, eventually standing at 172 metres tall.
The first stone of the Sagrada Família was placed in 1882, with up-and-coming architect Gaudí taking over the project the following year. He transformed the original designs for the basilica into a far more ambitious proposal, which was initially funded by donations from repentant worshippers.
At the time of his unexpected death in 1926, just one of the planned 18 towers had been built. In the years following, the construction of the architectural marvel was managed by the Sagrada Família foundation and funded by contributions from tourists, visitors, and private donors.
In addition to the death of its primary architect, the basilica has hit a number of roadblocks throughout its almost 150-year construction. During the Spanish Civil War, Catalan anarchists set fire to the crypt, destroying plans and plaster models created by Gaudí that would guide future construction. Most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic saw construction on the building halted, as foundation members attributed the pause to a lack of tourism, affecting funding for the project.
In September this year, Sagrada Família General Director Xavier Martínez reported that the Tower of Jesus Christ would be completed in 2026, to coincide with the centenary of Gaudí's death, with a series of events planned to commemorate the architect, who is buried in the church's crypt. Work on decorative details, sculptures, and a stairway leading to the building's main entrance is expected to continue over the next decade.
