Sagrada Familia Reaches its Final Height — One and a Half Centuries After Construction Began. And Becomes the Tallest Church on the Planet
On February 20, 2026, the famous Temple of the Holy Family in Barcelona finally reached its designed height. Builders installed the last element of the gigantic cross on top of the central tower of Jesus Christ. Now, Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece towers 172.5 meters above the city.
The last element of the gigantic cross of the Sagrada Familia temple above Barcelona. Photo: La Sagrada Família
Cross over the city and flag over the cross
The final chord in the construction of the temple's vertical dominant sounded on Friday morning. The hoisting of the upper part of the 17‑meter white cross became a symbol of the completion of external works on the complex of six central towers.
Installation of the last element of the gigantic cross of the Sagrada Familia temple. Photo: La Sagrada Família
The cross itself is a complex engineering structure made of steel and glass, weighing about 100 tons and with a width of 13.5 meters. It was manufactured in Bavaria, as specialists capable of realizing such a complex design were found there.
Following a good construction tradition, flags were immediately raised at the top: the flag of Catalonia, symbolizing the successful completion of the stage, and the flag of the Vatican — as a sign of belonging to the Catholic Church.
Flags of Catalonia and the Vatican on top of the Sagrada Familia temple's cross. Photo: La Sagrada Família
The chief architect of the project, Jordi Faulí, observing the process, succinctly remarked: «Today is the day we have eagerly awaited.»
Triumph of geometry and theology
This event marked the end of a long-standing race for height. As early as October 2025, the Sagrada Familia surpassed the Ulm Minster in Germany. That church held the title of the world's tallest church (161.5 meters) since 1890.
Installation of the last element of the gigantic cross of the Sagrada Familia temple. Photo: La Sagrada Família
Installation of the last element of the gigantic cross of the Sagrada Familia temple. Photo: La Sagrada Família
The final height of the Barcelona basilica — 172.5 meters — is not a random number. It is a tribute from Antoni Gaudí to the Creator. The great architect believed that human creations should not rise above God's creation. Therefore, the Sagrada Familia is deliberately made slightly lower than Montjuïc hill — Barcelona's main natural elevation.
Through wars and pandemics: how the symbol was built
To understand the scale of today's event, one should look back. The first stone of the temple was laid in the distant year 1882. Gaudí took over the construction a year later, completely redesigning the original modest project. This church became the main work of his life, but he perfectly understood that he would not see the result. At the time of the architect's tragic death in 1926, only one of the 18 planned towers had been erected.
The history of construction resembles a thrilling novel. During the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, Catalan anarchists broke into the temple and set fire to the underground crypt. Unique Gaudí drawings and plaster models were destroyed in the fire, jeopardizing the entire project. The master's vision had to be painstakingly reconstructed over decades. More recently, during the coronavirus pandemic, work stopped again due to the absence of tourists, as the construction is funded exclusively by ticket sales and private donations.
What's next?
The installation of the cross marks the end of the high-rise works, but not the end of construction. The solemn opening and consecration of the Tower of Jesus Christ is scheduled for June 10, 2026. The date is symbolic: exactly 100 years since the death of Antoni Gaudí, who is buried right here, in the crypt of his main creation. An observation deck with panoramic views of the city is expected to open inside the cross.
Installation of the last element of the gigantic cross of the Sagrada Familia temple. Photo: La Sagrada Família
However, much work still lies ahead. Builders need to complete the Glory Facade — the main entrance to the basilica, as well as finish complex interior works and create a staircase to the entrance.
According to forecasts by the Sagrada Familia foundation, this will take another ten years or so. But today, Barcelonans can breathe a sigh of relief: their city's silhouette has finally acquired the appearance that the great Gaudí dreamt of.
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