Barcelona’s skyline just got a divine upgrade.
The iconic Sagrada Familia basilica — the unfinished masterpiece of architect Antoni Gaudí — officially became the world’s tallest church on Thursday, after a section of its central tower was lifted into place.
With the addition, the basilica now soars 162.91 meters (534 feet) above the city, narrowly overtaking Germany’s Ulmer Münster, which had held the title since 1890 at 161.53 meters (530 feet).
Construction on the Sagrada Familia began in 1882, with Gaudí assuming control of the project the following year. His vision transformed a modest neo-Gothic design into a beautiful display of Catalan Modernism.
By the time of Gaudí’s tragic death in 1926, only one of the church’s 18 planned towers had been completed. Nearly 100 years later, cranes still crown the basilica, but the end is finally in sight.
The latest milestone marks just the beginning of the final stretch: the Tower of Jesus Christ, when complete with its crowning cross, will rise to 172 meters (564 feet) — making it not just the tallest church in the world, but one of the tallest religious structures ever built.
The basilica’s construction has been anything but smooth. During the Spanish Civil War, anarchists torched Gaudí’s workshop, destroying his detailed plans and plaster models. Reconstruction of his vision took decades.
More recently, COVID-19 forced construction to halt entirely in 2020, as tourism — the basilica’s main funding source — dried up. In 2024, nearly 4.9 million visitors paid to enter the site, with 15% coming from the US, according to the Sagrada Familia Foundation.
Despite wars, pandemics, and political turmoil, Gaudí’s masterpiece has endured — a living construction site that doubles as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most-visited landmarks in Europe.
The Sagrada Familia Foundation says the central tower’s construction will be finished in 2026, coinciding with the centenary of Gaudí’s death. A series of events are planned next year to celebrate the architect’s legacy — which also includes Barcelona’s Casa Batlló, Parc Güell, and Casa Milà (La Pedrera).
Meanwhile, the basilica’s intricate facades and interior decorations will continue to evolve, with full completion expected by the mid-2030s.
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