Barcelona’s iconic Sagrada Familia reached its maximum planned height on Friday, marking a major milestone in the long-running construction of the basilica designed by Antoni Gaudi.
A crane carefully placed the upper arm of a white cross atop the Tower of Jesus Christ, pushing the structure to 172.5 metres above the city skyline. Tourists gathered in large numbers, craning their necks to witness the historic installation amid scaffolding and suspended workers.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Head architect Jordi Fauli expressed satisfaction with the progress, saying, “Today was a day we had been eagerly awaiting. Everything has gone well, very well.”
The basilica, whose foundation stone was laid in 1882, has long symbolised Gaudi’s visionary blend of Catholic symbolism and organic design. Although the church has now become the world’s tallest, significant interior work on the Tower of Jesus Christ is still pending.
Officials aim to remove surrounding scaffolding before June, when events will mark the centenary of Gaudi’s death. Speculation continues about a possible visit by Pope Leo XIV, though the Vatican has not confirmed any plans.
Funded largely by tourism, the monument sold 4.8 million tickets in 2024. However, disputes over proposed entrance steps and earlier pandemic-related delays mean the masterpiece remains years away from full completion.
