BARCELONA, Spain — After more than a century under construction, Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica is poised to raise its immense central tower, a milestone that would make it the tallest Christian church in Europe.
General Director Xavier Martínez said the tower will be finished at the end of this year or the beginning of 2026, a moment the church described as reaching its maximum height for the building.
The central Tower of Jesus Christ is planned to rise to 172 meters, or about 564 feet, once completed, which would put it atop the list of Europe’s tallest churches and taller than Ulmer Münster, which tops out at 162 meters. When finished, the structure will be crowned by a cross and tightly surrounded by five other towers, one dedicated to Mary and four for the four evangelists, according to project officials.
Work on the facades and interior will continue for several years, with construction aimed at wrapping up roughly a decade from now, said Esteve Camps, the basilica’s head of construction.
Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death. The church will hold several events to celebrate his legacy, including a solemn Mass for Gaudí on June 10, for which officials said Pope Leo XIV has been invited; Vatican representatives have said they will respond in the coming weeks. Benedict XVI consecrated the Sagrada Familia and designated it a minor basilica in 2010, long after Gaudí’s death.
The first stone of the Sagrada Familia was laid in 1882. Gaudí never expected it to be completed in his lifetime; only one of his towers was finished when he died. The basilica relies on entrance fees for funding, and last year 4.9 million people paid to visit, with about 15% of those travelers from the United States.