The tallest temple in the world opened in Barcelona 144 years after construction began

A historic event that generations of architects, builders and admirers of Antoni Gaudí had been waiting for took place in Barcelona. On June 10, 2026, the central Tower of Jesus Christ of the famous Sagrada Família basilica was ceremonially opened and consecrated. It became the last and tallest of the temple's 18 planned towers, turning it into the tallest religious structure on the planet.

The event symbolically coincided with the centenary of the death of the great Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who devoted more than 40 years of his life to building the temple and until his last days called it the main work of his destiny.

The tower people waited for for almost a century and a half

Construction of the Sagrada Família began back in 1882. A year later, Gaudí took over the project, completely changing the original concept and turning the temple into one of the most recognizable structures in the world. However, the architect died in 1926, when the building had been completed only in part.

Now, 144 years after work began, the central tower rises above Barcelona at a height of 172.5 meters. It is crowned with a giant cross made of glass and white ceramics, 17 meters high, visible from almost anywhere in the city. Thanks to this, the Sagrada Família has officially become the tallest temple in the world and the tallest building in Barcelona.

Interestingly, Gaudí deliberately refused to make his creation taller than Montjuïc Hill. The architect believed that a man-made structure should not surpass God's creation. That is why the basilica's height was set at 172.5 meters.

The Pope consecrated the tower

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Barcelona for the ceremony. After the solemn mass, the pontiff blessed the new tower, calling the Sagrada Família a symbol of peace, unity and Europe's spiritual heritage.

King Felipe VI of Spain, representatives of the country's government, the Catalan authorities, and tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists attended the service. According to the organizers, the celebrations drew about 70,000 people.

Before the ceremony, the Pope visited the temple's crypt, where Gaudí himself is buried, and then held a memorial service in honor of the architect, whom many Catholics have long called the “architect of God”.

Drones, a light show and Gaudí's face in the sky

After the official part, the sky above Barcelona turned into a huge screen. A large-scale drone show, light projections and fireworks took place over the temple. Thousands of drones formed Gaudí's portrait in the air, as well as the famous elements of his architecture.

Light installations were projected directly onto the basilica's facades, and the evening culminated with the illumination of the cross atop the new tower. For many city residents, the event became a historic moment, comparable in significance to the opening of iconic world landmarks.

But construction is still not finished

Despite the headline-making opening, the Sagrada Família is not yet considered fully complete. The basilica's main structure is indeed finished, but work remains on the Glory façade, decorative elements, sculptures and the large entrance area. Current estimates suggest the project may take almost another ten years to complete — until 2034–2035.

Additional controversy has been sparked by the construction of a grand staircase in front of the main facade. Its implementation could require rebuilding the surrounding block and relocating some residents, which has already prompted protests in Barcelona.

A temple that has survived wars and generations

Throughout its long history, the Sagrada Família has survived the Spanish Civil War, the destruction of part of Gaudí's drawings, lack of funding and the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly slowed the work. However, thanks to modern technology, the project was brought to its current stage.

Today, the basilica attracts millions of tourists every year and remains one of Spain's most recognizable symbols. And the opening of the Tower of Jesus Christ became perhaps the most important event in its history since Antoni Gaudí himself — the man whose dream continued to be built for another hundred years after his death.