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Basílica de la Sagrada Família exterior complete, tallest tower topped
Basílica de la Sagrada Família exterior complete, tallest tower topped
Architecture
World's tallest church is practically complete after 144 years under construction
By
Abhimanyu Ghoshal
February 23, 2026
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World's tallest church is practically complete after 144 years under construction
After 144 years, the Basílica de la Sagrada Família will no longer be photobombed by construction cranes as its exterior is now complete
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
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After 144 years, the Basílica de la Sagrada Família will no longer be photobombed by construction cranes as its exterior is now complete
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
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A rendering of the cross atop the Basílica de la Sagrada Família's central tower of Jesus Christ standing at a height of 566 ft
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
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Enormous segments of the ceramic and glass cross were made and brought in from Germany
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
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The Basílica de la Sagrada Família stands head and shoulders above the rest of Barcelona and defines its skyline with its tall towers
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
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The towers have taken decades to complete…
Insider tour of the Sagrada Familia reveals 5 divine enigmas and hidden treasures
Insider tour of the Sagrada Familia reveals 5 divine enigmas and hidden treasures
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- The Sagrada Familia basilica features sandcastle-like spires, stone carved to look like lush flora, a kaleidoscopic interior
La Sagrada Familia: Everything You Need to Know - Architectural Digest
La Sagrada Familia: Everything You Need to Know - Architectural Digest
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The word
unique
is used way too much nowadays, but La Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí’s magnum opus in
Barcelona
, is a rare architectural marvel that really is one of a kind.
This remarkable edifice, which has been compared to everything from a science fiction fantasy to “
spirit symbolized in stone
,” has captivated, inspired, and, yes, even repelled visitors for over a century. Famously unfinished, the church has been under construction since 1882. But soon, this massive project, the labor of generations of architects, sculptors, and builders, will
finally be complete
.
Pope Leo XIV will visit the world’s tallest church on June 10, 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death, celebrating evening Mass and blessing its central Tower of Jesus Christ, which was finished in February 2026 and marked the completion of the church’s main exterior structure.
We spoke to two architects about the significance of Gaudí’s masterpiece, how he changed architecture, and what to look for if you decide to see it in person in Barcelona.
In this article
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Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, Completed After 144 Years ... - Forbes
Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, Completed After 144 Years ... - Forbes
Lifestyle
Arts
Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, Completed After 144 Years, Celebrates Gaudí’s Centenary
By
Cecilia Rodriguez
,
Senior Contributor.
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.
Cecilia Rodriguez is a Luxembourg based journalist covering Art&Travel
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Jun 10, 2026, 10:37am EDT
Jun 11, 2026, 09:17am EDT
Antoni Gaudi's now-completed Sagrada Familia Basilica. a jewel in the crown of Barcelona and the Catholic church Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
The
Sagrada Familia Basilica
in Barcelona, one of the most ambitious architectural projects in modern history, has reached a milestone many believed they would never witness: After 144 years of tortuous challenges to complete its construction, the iconic church designed by Antoni Gaudí is officially finished.
Like in an ultra-complex puzzle, the last piece of the architectural marvel—a monumental cross weighting about 100 tons installed atop the Tower of Jesus Christ—is now in place, making the Spanish modernist church the tallest in the world at 172.5 meters (566 feet) and marking the culminatio…
After 144 years, world’s tallest church finally finishes exterior
After 144 years, world’s tallest church finally finishes exterior
With the placement of the upper arm of the tower of Jesus, the Sagrada Familia reaches a height of 172.5 meters. The final piece, weighing over 12 tons, completes the cross, which measures 17 meters high and 13 meters wide. With the placement of this piece, the Antoni Gaudi masterpiece, now the tallest church in the world, takes a significant step towards its inauguration in June of this year, in Barcelona, Spain, on February 20, 2026.
Credit:
Joan Valls / Urbanandsport / NurPhoto via Getty Images
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After over 140 years,
construction
on the world’s tallest (and arguably strangest) church is finally finished…sort of. On February 20th, workers secured the nearly
15-foot upper arm of a cross
atop the Tower of Jesus Christ on top of the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la
Sagrada Família
in Barcelona, Spain. The m…
Sagrada Familia Interior: Gaudí's Light-Filled Masterpiece
Sagrada Familia Interior: Gaudí's Light-Filled Masterpiece
The Sagrada Familia interior hits differently.
While its outside gets all the Instagram love, the real magic might just be inside.
Let’s walk through what to see in Sagrada Familia interior, and go through some tips that’ll make your visit smoother and way more fun.
The Sagrada Familia Interior: Light-Bathed Genius
The
Sagrada Familia
is the most visited church in Spain – and its interior is a surprise for most people. Designed by
Antoni Gaudí
, this unfinished basilica isn’t just about size.
It’s about color, light, and vertical space
that makes you feel like you’re walking inside a forest built by a dreamer.
People who visit the interior of Sagrada Familia love it for:
✅
How the colored light spills through the stained glass
✅
The towering columns that feel like stone trees
✅
The peaceful silence despite the crowds
✅
Its fusion of Gothic and nature-inspired architecture
✅
That surreal feeling of standing inside a living piece of art
The Sagrada Familia interior is perfect for
art lovers, architecture fans, photographers, and anyone into spiritual spaces
.
If there’s one downside, it’s that it can get very busy. But hones…
Sagrada Familia nears completion, revealing secrets of Gaudí's vision
Sagrada Familia nears completion, revealing secrets of Gaudí's vision
The Sagrada Familia basilica features sandcastle-like spires, stone carved to look like lush flora, a kaleidoscopic interior and a trove of treasures, some hiding in plain sight. Even regular worshippers at Barcelona’s world-famous landmark find themselves dumbstruck with wonder.
Sagrada Família’s 144-year journey nears its end with the ... - CNN
Sagrada Família’s 144-year journey nears its end with the ... - CNN
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Summary
The final tower of Barcelona's Sagrada Família is complete, 144 years after construction began.
Pope Leo XIV will inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ on Wednesday, exactly 100 years after architect Antoni Gaudí died.
Plans for the basilica's entranceway have generated tension with residents, who fear their homes and businesses may be demolished.
AI-generated summary was reviewed by a CNN editor.
Barcelona, Spain
—
It’s inevitable — everyone looks up. When visitors arrive at Barcelona’s Sagrada Família, their eyes instinctively follow the surreal twisting lines of the basilica’s sculptural towers until they reach the tip of each spire.
Their gazes now extend higher than ever: More than 144 years after construction began, the world’s tallest church reached its final height of 566 feet upon the installation of its last major structural element, a cross atop the central
Tower of Jesus Christ
, in February.
Delayed by wars, politics and funding shortfalls, Sagrada Família’s imposing but unfinished presence has dominated Barcelona’s s…
Corroboration
No verdict, no pronouncement. The model extracts atomic factual claims with verbatim quotes; every quote is validated against the source text and corroboration is computed by counting how many editorially-opposed blocs assert each fact.
The spine · 1 fact corroborated across ≥2 opposed blocs
2×broadly confirmedThe Sagrada Familia basilica features sandcastle-like spires, stone carved to look like lush flora, and a kaleidoscopic interior.
japanwestern
france24“The Sagrada Familia basilica features sandcastle-like spires, stone carved to look like lush flora, a kaleidoscopic interior”
mainichi“The Sagrada Familia basilica features sandcastle-like spires, stone carved to look like lush flora, a kaleidoscopic interior”
Single-source · 5 — reported by one bloc only (uncorroborated)
The Basílica de la Sagrada Família's exterior is now complete.
newatlas.com
The Basílica de la Sagrada Família has been under construction for 144 years.
newatlas.com
The central tower of Jesus Christ at the Basílica de la Sagrada Família stands at a height of 566 ft.
newatlas.com
Enormous segments of the ceramic and glass cross atop the Basílica de la Sagrada Família were made and brought in from Germany.
newatlas.com
The Basílica de la Sagrada Família stands head and shoulders above the rest of Barcelona and defines its skyline.
newatlas.com
Framing · 2 — loaded language surfaced (spin shown, not adopted)
france24
“Even regular worshippers at Barcelona’s world-famous landmark find themselves dumbstruck with wonder.”
→ Regular worshippers at the Sagrada Familia are awed by the basilica.
newatlas.com
“World's tallest church is practically complete after 144 years under construction”
→ The Basílica de la Sagrada Família is nearly finished after 144 years of construction.
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Sagrada Familiaplace
Gaudíperson
Sagrada Familiaorg
Architectural Digestorg
Basílica de la Sagrada Famíliaplace
world’s tallest churchorg