More than 140 years after construction began, the masterpiece of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí is approaching a historic milestone, with its main 172.5-metre tower set to be completed to coincide with the centenary of Gaudí’s death.
The Barcelona basilica has already surpassed the height of the spire of Ulm Minster and is set to be crowned in the coming months by a monumental cross that will complete the tower’s silhouette.
To mark the centenary, the basilica will host a series of commemorative events celebrating Gaudí’s artistic and spiritual legacy, including a solemn mass scheduled for June 10, to which Pope Leo XIV has been invited.
Construction of the Sagrada Família began in 1882 and Gaudí himself never expected to see it finished; only one tower had been completed at the time of his death in 1926. The year 2026 will mark 100 years since his passing, and the church plans several initiatives to honour his enduring influence.
Despite the symbolic importance of unveiling the cross, the project will not be finished then, with overall construction work expected to continue until around 2034.
