Builders working on Barcelona’s still-unfinished Sagrada Familia basilica placed the final element atop its largest tower on Friday, bringing the height of the world’s tallest church to 172.5 metres.
Despite the milestone, full completion of the basilica is not expected for roughly another decade.
The achievement comes more than 140 years after renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí first conceived the structure, which has since become both an emblem of Barcelona and one of Spain’s most visited landmarks.
The first stone of the Sagrada Familia was placed in 1882, but Gaudí never expected it to be completed in his lifetime. Only one of its multiple towers was finished when he died at the age of 73 in 1926, after being hit by a tram.
Friday’s newly installed feature is a 17-metre-tall white cross crowning the Jesus Christ tower, one of 18 towers envisioned in Gaudí’s original design.
Large crowds of tourists gathered nearby, watching as the cross’s upper arm was hoisted into place above scaffolding, with construction workers completing the operation while suspended in harnesses.
‘Today was a day we had been eagerly awaiting. Everything has gone well, very well,’ chief architect Jordi Faulí told reporters.
Once the scaffolding is removed, the Jesus Christ tower is due to be blessed on 10 June, a date chosen to mark the centenary of Gaudí’s death.
Speculation has circulated that Pope Leo XIV could attend the ceremony, though the Vatican has not confirmed any visit to Spain.
With the cross now in place, the basilica surpasses Germany’s Ulm Minster, previously the tallest church in the world.
Construction of the Sagrada Familia has been repeatedly delayed over the years. The Covid-19 pandemic forced the abandonment of a goal to finish the project this year, cutting off vital revenue when ticket sales collapsed.
The basilica remains Spain’s most-visited fee-charging church, with 4.8 million tickets sold in 2024.
Further complications remain unresolved, including a dispute over plans to build a staircase and public square leading to the Glory façade. The proposal would require the demolition of nearby residential buildings.
Barcelona City Council is expected to mediate talks with residents affected by the plans, many of whom oppose them amid an ongoing housing crisis in the city.
Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
Today the upper arm of the cross of the Sagrada Família’s tower of Jesus Christ has been placed, a milestone that completes the exterior construction of the Temple’s tallest tower. ✝ This installation completes the set of the Sagrada Família’s six central towers. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/A6xFOx7I9n
— La Sagrada Família (@sagradafamilia) February 20, 2026
The Sagrada Família reaches its highest point following the placement of the upper arm of the cross of the tower of Jesus Christ. As is a tradition in construction, the Catalan flag is hoisted, indicating that the tower structure is complete and that there were no incidents, as… pic.twitter.com/CVtbZCCizX
— La Sagrada Família (@sagradafamilia) February 20, 2026
Please support us with a donation.
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.