New images released of the iconic Sagrada Familia — now the world’s tallest church

Barcelona’s skyline conscionable sewage a divine upgrade.

The iconic Sagrada Familia basilica — nan unfinished masterpiece of designer Antoni Gaudí — officially became nan world’s tallest religion connected Thursday, aft a conception of its cardinal building was lifted into place.

With nan addition, nan basilica now soars 162.91 meters (534 feet) supra nan city, narrowly overtaking Germany’s Ulmer Münster, which had held nan title since 1890 astatine 161.53 meters (530 feet).

Construction connected nan Sagrada Familia began successful 1882, pinch Gaudí assuming power of nan task nan pursuing year. His imagination transformed a humble neo-Gothic creation into a beautiful show of Catalan Modernism.

By nan clip of Gaudí’s tragic decease successful 1926, only 1 of nan church’s 18 planned towers had been completed. Nearly 100 years later, cranes still crown nan basilica, but nan extremity is yet successful sight.

The latest milestone marks conscionable nan opening of nan last stretch: nan Tower of Jesus Christ, erstwhile complete pinch its crowning cross, will emergence to 172 meters (564 feet) — making it not conscionable nan tallest religion successful nan world, but 1 of nan tallest belief structures ever built.

The basilica’s building has been thing but smooth. During nan Spanish Civil War, anarchists torched Gaudí’s workshop, destroying his elaborate plans and plaster models. Reconstruction of his imagination took decades.

More recently, COVID-19 forced building to halt wholly successful 2020, arsenic tourism — nan basilica’s main backing root — dried up. In 2024, astir 4.9 cardinal visitors paid to participate nan site, pinch 15% coming from nan US, according to nan Sagrada Familia Foundation.

Despite wars, pandemics and governmental turmoil, Gaudí’s masterpiece has endured — a surviving building tract that doubles arsenic a UNESCO World Heritage Site and 1 of nan most-visited landmarks successful Europe.

The Sagrada Familia Foundation says nan cardinal tower’s building will beryllium vanished successful 2026, coinciding pinch nan centenary of Gaudí’s death. A bid of events are planned adjacent twelvemonth to observe nan architect’s bequest — which besides includes Barcelona’s Casa Batlló, Parc Güell and Casa Milà (La Pedrera).

Meanwhile, nan basilica’s intricate facades and interior decorations will proceed to evolve, pinch afloat completion expected by nan mid-2030s.