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The Sagrada Família in Barcelona photographed as it nears completion — Gaudí's basilica has now surpassed Ulm Minster as the world's tallest church, its stone towers finally reaching the height their architect envisioned in 1882
In Design

Sagrada Família Becomes Tallest Church in the World as it Nears Completion

A whopping 143 years after it started construction, the massive, ornate Sagrada Família cathedral in Barcelona is nearing completion.

Aerial view of Barcelona featuring the Sagrada Família's towering structure being lifted by crane, with urban buildings and the sea in the background.
An image showing part of the massive cross being installed.
A panoramic view of the Sagrada Familia basilica under construction in Barcelona, with the sea in the background and cityscape surrounding it.
Photo by Julian Lupyan 

New video showcases the enormous cathedral’s lower cross being placed by crane, officially making it the tallest church in the world.

When the exterior is completed in 2026, it will reach an impressive 172 meters (564.3 feet) into the air, towering over much of Barcelona.

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Workers assembling the upper section of the Sagrada Família cathedral in Barcelona, showcasing its intricate design and construction progress.
The enormous cross on the tower of Jesus Christ will be 17 meters tall when completed.
View of the Sagrada Família cathedral in Barcelona, showcasing its ornate spires and ongoing construction, with cranes and trees in the foreground.
Photo by Reda Kerbush

The Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí is the mastermind behind the design, which is unlike anything else in the world of architecture, and combines Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms.

Photography via Creative Commons and by the Foundation Construction Board of the Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia.

Edited by Ben VanderVeen · About Moss & Fog

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Author

Ben VanderVeen is the founder and editor of Moss & Fog, one of the web’s longest-running visual culture destinations. Since 2009, he’s been finding and framing the most beautiful, surprising, and thought-provoking work in art, architecture, design, and nature — reaching over 325,000 readers each month. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

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3 Comments

  1. SERVANDO VARELA JR

    WHY? Why does it have to be so tall? How much of it is for use?

  2. SERVANDO VARELA JR

    WHY? Does it really have to be so tall? How much of it is used?

  3. Pingback: MVRDV’s "The Island" Brings a Gaudí-Esque Vertical Jungle to Taiwan | Moss and Fog

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