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The Sagrada Família in Barcelona reached its final form after 144 years of continuous construction — the central tower of Jesus Christ reached 172.5 meters, making the basilica the tallest church in the world
On February 20, 2026, the last structural piece of the central tower of Jesus Christ of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona reached its final position at 172.5 meters high. According to Vatican News, this milestone concluded the structural construction of the basilica exactly 100 years after the death of its creator, architect Antoni Gaudí.
Furthermore, the Sagrada Família is officially the oldest active construction project in the world according to Guinness World Records — it has been 144 years since the first stone was laid in 1882.
Therefore, the Sagrada Família took longer to build than many entire civilizations lasted.
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Consequently, the 172.5-meter tower surpassed the Ulm Cathedral in Germany — which held the title of the tallest church in the world at 161.5 meters for 131 years.
The Sagrada Família was completed 100 years after Gaudí’s death — the architect who knew he would not live to see his work finished
Antoni Gaudí dedicated the last 43 years of his life to the Sagrada Família. In fact, in the last 12 years before he was hit by a tram in 1926, he worked exclusively on the basilica — sleeping on the construction site and begging for donations to finance the construction.
According to historical records, when asked why the work was so slow, Gaudí replied: “My client is not in a hurry” — referring to God.
In this sense, the completion of the structure in 2026 — exactly on the centenary of his death — carries a symbolism that transcends engineering. Just as medieval cathedrals took centuries to be completed, the Sagrada Família has become a bridge between generations.
However, Gaudí left only models and partial drawings of his project. Still, generations of architects and engineers have interpreted his ideas and continued the construction using technology he could never have imagined.
The numbers behind 144 years of engineering
According to Wikipedia, the Sagrada Família receives 4.7 million visitors per year — and it is precisely the paid entries that finance the construction. Especially since the work has never received public funding.
In other words, every tourist who buys a ticket is literally paying for the next brick of the basilica.
The church will have 18 towers when fully completed — 12 representing the apostles, 4 the evangelists, 1 the Virgin Mary, and the central one representing Jesus Christ.
To give you an idea, the interior of the basilica can accommodate 9,000 people simultaneously. Moreover, the internal columns were designed by Gaudí to mimic trees — with branches that support the ceiling like a stone forest.
Equally impressive is the fact that the construction survived the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), when anarchists set fire to Gaudí’s workshop and destroyed much of the original models.
From hammer to computer: how technology accelerated a 144-year project
Despite this, the last 20 years of construction have progressed faster than the previous 120 combined. First, 3D modeling software allowed engineers to digitally recreate the complex organic shapes that Gaudí designed with string models and sandbags.
Secondly, 3D printers began producing ornamental pieces that previously required months of manual sculpting. Thus, the pace of construction dramatically increased from 2010 onwards.
In practice, the Sagrada Família is one of the only constructions in the world where 19th-century techniques coexist with 21st-century technology — handcrafted stonework alongside drones and precision lasers.
In comparison, projects like the high-speed railway in the United States have been debated for decades without getting off the ground. The Sagrada Família shows that persistence and continuous funding — even if slow — eventually deliver results.
What is still missing — and when it will truly be 100% ready
However, the structural completion in 2026 does not mean that the work is finished. According to the construction committee, internal work will continue in 2027 and 2028. In turn, the Glory Facade — the main entrance facing south — still needs monumental stairs and urban elements around it.
According to current projections, the Sagrada Família will be completely finished between 2034 and 2035.
Still, for the 4.7 million tourists who visit the basilica annually, the difference between “structurally complete” and “fully ready” is almost imperceptible. The experience of entering the tallest church in the world is already complete.
Gaudí’s original project envisioned a basilica in the shape of a Latin cross, with 5 central naves and a transept of 3 naves. In total, the built area occupies 4,500 square meters.
Moreover, the acoustics of the basilica were carefully designed. The tree-like columns — which branch out like tree trunks — distribute sound evenly throughout the space. According to experts, the sound effect is comparable to that of the best concert halls in the world.
At the same time, the stained glass of the Sagrada Família was designed to create a light effect that changes throughout the day. In the morning, the light entering from the east bathes the interior in cool tones of blue and green. At sunset, the west side illuminates everything in orange and red.
In practice, entering the basilica is like being inside a kaleidoscope of stone and light that changes color as the hours pass.
The funding of the work is unique in the world of religious architecture. Unlike historical cathedrals that depended on kings, popes, or nobles, the Sagrada Família has always sustained itself with donations and ticket sales from visitors.
In fact, the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 interrupted the work for the first time since the Spanish Civil War, when tourism revenue fell to zero for months. However, construction resumed in 2021 and accelerated in the following years.
According to data from 2025, each ticket costs between 26 and 40 euros, generating an estimated annual revenue of over 100 million euros — enough to finance both construction and maintenance simultaneously.
On the other hand, urban critics argue that the massive flow of tourists transforms the Eixample neighborhood into a theme park, harming the lives of local residents. The debate between cultural preservation and tourism impact continues in Barcelona.
Will any other project started today be completed in 144 years — and still remain relevant and admired? The Sagrada Família suggests that yes, as long as the original vision is powerful enough to survive its creator.
Ultimately, the Sagrada Família in Barcelona is not just a church or a monument. It is proof that humanity can work on something greater than itself — for over a century, without ever stopping, even when the architect dies, war destroys the plans, and money runs out. Gaudí knew he would not see the result. Still, he began.
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