The Sagrada Família minor basilica in Barcelona has officially become the tallest church in the world, reaching a height of 535 feet and surpassing Germany’s Ulm Minster, whose construction began in the 14th century.
According to the Sagrada Família Expiatory Church Construction Board Foundation—cited in an Oct. 30 report by the Archdiocese of Barcelona—“the first element of the cross on the tower of Jesus Christ” has been installed, marking the start of the final phase in completing the church’s central tower.
The latest section added is the lower part of the cross, which stands over 20 feet tall and weighs 24 tons. Its design features a double-twist geometry, starting as a square at the base and transforming into an octagon at the top. The exterior is covered in white glazed ceramic and glass, materials chosen for their excellent reflective properties and resistance to weathering.
The tower of Jesus Christ is the tallest of the basilica’s central towers, designed by Antoni Gaudí. The completion of this structure “will mark a historic milestone for the Sagrada Família and serve as a tribute to its visionary architect.”
The first stone of the Sagrada Família Basilica was laid on March 19, 1882, following the design of architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. A year later, Antoni Gaudí took over the project, transforming it with his distinctive Modernist style and architectural vision. From 1914 until his death on June 10, 1926, Gaudí devoted himself entirely to the church.
On April 14, 2025, Pope Francis declared Gaudí venerable, in line with the criteria established by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.