The organisation responsible for completing celebrated Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece has announced the date.
The famously unfinished Catholic church is one of the most intricate and ornate works of architecture in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The world-renowned church is one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions, with over 4 million visitors a year. Construction first began in 1882, which means it has been under construction for 142 years.
“The Chapel of the Assumption is expected to be finished in 2025 and the tower of Jesus Christ, in 2026,” the Sagrada Familia said in a statement announcing the publication of its 2023 annual report.
The tower of Jesus Christ will stand at 172.5 meters (566 feet) tall, and will be finished with a 17-meter-tall (56-foot) four-armed cross. The towers of the Sagrada Família are laid out in a pyramid-shaped structure that will finally be fully realised with the completion of the the tower of Jesus Christ, the central, tallest tower.
In November Barcelona celebrated the completion of the church’s four towers, each represents one of the four evangelists, Matthew, John, Mark and Luke – the reputed writers of the gospels that told the story of Jesus’s life.
When completed, the Sagrada Familia will become the tallest church in the world, surpassing the cathedral in Ulm, Germany. The completion of works is timed to coincide with the centenary of Gaudi’s death.
In 2023, the Sagrada Família welcomed a total of 4,707,367 visitors. As construction of the building is 100% privately funded, funds for the ongoing works depend on ticket sales.
