Gaudí’s code has been cracked! Construction of the main tower of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona has been completed after almost 150 years

A century and a half on, Barcelona is celebrating a historic victory: the Sagrada Família has finally gained its central feature. The consecration of the Tower of Jesus Christ has officially made Gaudí’s masterpiece the tallest church on the planet. Find out what secrets this legendary long-running construction project holds and when the final phase will take place

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For a century and a half, the whole world has been wondering when the construction of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona would be completed. Today, this historic saga has reached its climax: this architectural masterpiece has gained its central feature. The completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ was not merely an architectural triumph, but also the fulfilment of Antoni Gaudí’s grand prophecy, which brought together music, light and age-old legends.

How Barcelona marked the historic moment

The event, which several generations had been waiting for, turned the streets of Barcelona into a huge festive venue. Around 120,000 people gathered at the cathedral to witness the historic moment. The consecration ceremony for the new tower coincided with a symbolic date — the 100th anniversary of the death of the brilliant Antoni Gaudí, who devoted over forty years of his life to this project.

The solemn Mass was presided over by Pope Leo XIV. The unprecedented scale of the event was underscored by the presence of the country’s leading figures: King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, for whom unprecedented security measures were put in place in the city. In his homily, the Pontiff described the basilica as a ‘masterpiece of stone, colour and light’, as well as a symbol of harmony. The highlight of the celebration was the Pope stepping out onto the street to bless a giant illuminated cross atop the tower. All this was accompanied by the singing of a children’s choir, a spectacular drone show, fireworks launched directly from the basilica’s façade, and a light projection that transformed the stained-glass windows into a shimmering mosaic.

The tallest church in the world

With the consecration of the new tower, the Sagrada Família has officially been recognised as the tallest church on the planet. Its height has reached 172.5 metres, forever changing the skyline of Barcelona. The basilica now boasts all 18 of its planned towers, each with its own sacred significance: twelve are dedicated to the apostles, four to the evangelists, one to the Virgin Mary, and the central, most grandiose tower, crowned with a ceramic cross, was erected in honour of Jesus Christ.

The interior decoration of the church is no less impressive than its façades. Gaudí, who loved to repeat that ‘nature is his teacher’, designed the interior as a mystical ‘forest of stone and light’. Massive columns branch out beneath the vaults, like the trunks of giant trees.

Sunlight, passing through the eastern stained-glass windows, bathes the Nativity façade in the blue-green hues of the morning cool, whilst the red and orange tones of the sunset dramatically accentuate the Passion façade. The chancel is bathed in golden light, symbolising divine glory.

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The mystical legends of the Sagrada Família

Over 150 years, a whole aura of mysticism has formed around the basilica, and many details of the building conceal coded messages. Here are the main legends that still intrigue researchers:

The secret of the 172.5-metre height. Many wonder: why did Gaudí choose this particular odd number for the main tower? According to legend (which is corroborated by the master’s diaries), Gaudí categorically did not want his creation to surpass Montjuïc — Barcelona’s highest natural point (173 metres). The architect believed that a creation of human hands had no right to tower above God’s creation.

The Client is in no hurry. When, during his lifetime, Antoni Gaudí was criticised for the excessively slow pace of construction, he would calmly reply: ‘My Client is in no hurry’, referring to God. A popular belief has taken root that the Sagrada Família is protected by higher powers precisely because of its status as a perpetual construction site, and that rushing the work could bring disaster upon the city.

The Curse of Completion. One of Barcelona’s most popular urban legends claimed that on the day the final stone was laid on the main tower of the Sagrada Família, the end of the world would come—or, in a milder version, a radical change of eras for the whole of Spain. The consecration of the Tower of Jesus Christ dispelled these gloomy fears, turning this day into the beginning of a new, bright chapter in the city’s history.

When will the Sagrada Família finally be completed?

Although the completion of the central tower and the attainment of the status of ‘the tallest church in the world’ is the most significant milestone, the full stop has not yet been placed on its 150-year history. Inside and outside the complex, the sculptural compositions and decorative elements still need to be completed. It is expected that the final touches to Antoni Gaudí’s grand vision will be completed within the next decade, finally turning the genius’s stone dream into reality.

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Reminder! July is the most popular month for holidays in Europe, but travellers are increasingly opting for off-the-beaten-track destinations instead of overcrowded resorts. Find out where travel experts recommend going in July 2026.

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