The upper part of a cross has been positioned on top of the church’s towering central tower, increasing its height to 172.5 meters
The last piece of the central tower of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia has been put in place, making the basilica reach its maximum height of 172.5 meters – a milestone achieved 144 years after the first stone was laid.
The construction of the basilica started in 1882 and went on for decades under the guidance of architect Antoni Gaudi, whose visionary design combined Gothic and Art Nouveau influences. Progress repeatedly slowed down after Gaudí’s death in 1926, being interrupted by funding shortages, political unrest, and war damage.
Some of the work finished on Friday included the central Tower of Jesus Christ, the tallest among the basilica’s planned 18 towers, being topped with a monumental cross, completing the vertical outline envisioned by Gaudí over a century ago. The church dominates the Barcelona skyline.
Designed with four arms so that it can be recognized from any direction, the cross marks the completion of the tower’s defining architectural feature.
Video footage from the site shows workers guiding the shiny structure into position high above the city before securing it on top of the tower.
Engineers used cranes to lift and position the upper section during the installation, while residents and visitors gathered below to watch, applauding as the cross was fastened in place.
The long construction period reflects a combination of intricate craftsmanship, evolving building technologies, and historical disruptions, including the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939), which destroyed original models and plans. Modern architects relied on remaining fragments, photographs, and digital modeling to continue Gaudi’s vision, turning the basilica into one of the longest-running architectural projects in modern history.
“Today was a day we had been eagerly waiting for. Everything has gone very well,” head architect Jordi Fauli told reporters after the cross was installed.