Sagrada Familia's Central Tower Reaches Its Apex, Marking a Historic Milestone

Barcelona’s skyline reached its final, long-awaited form today as the last piece of the Sagrada Familia’s central tower was secured into place. This moment, 144 years after construction began, brings Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece to its ultimate height of 172.5 meters, cementing its status as both the city’s tallest building and the tallest church in the world.

After days of weather delays, a 17-meter steel and glass cross was hoisted to the summit just before noon. As Catalan and Vatican flags unfurled against the sky, project director Jordi Faulí called it “a joyful day, wonderful for all the people who have made it possible.”

The event marks a profound shift for a city that has lived alongside the evolving silhouette of the basilica for generations. For decades, it was an open-air workshop where artisans labored amidst the flow of tourists whose fees fund the project. Only in recent years, with the completion of its stunning, forest-like interior of light and stone, has the space fully transformed from a construction zone into a place of worship.

While a formal ceremony is planned for June, the centenary of Gaudí’s death, significant work remains. The striking Glory façade is still to be built, a task expected to take another decade. The basilica has always stirred strong feelings, from George Orwell’s infamous disdain to its current status as Barcelona’s top attraction, drawing five million visitors annually.

The structure is now the work of countless hands, incorporating modern techniques and artists while adhering to Gaudí’s precise, revolutionary geometry. It stands complete in height, a testament to persistence, and a defining symbol finally made whole.