Sagrada Família Reaches 172.5 Meters as Cross Crowns Central Tower

Overview

• The final piece was a white cross measuring 17 meters high by 13.5 meters wide, lifted by a large crane and guided into place by workers using safety harnesses.
• At 172.5 meters, the basilica remains the world’s tallest church and now becomes the tallest building in Barcelona, staying below Gaudí’s 177-meter Montjuïc limit.
• Scaffolding will be removed in stages ahead of the June 10 ceremony marking the centenary of Gaudí’s death, with papal attendance anticipated but not confirmed.
• Chief architect Jordi Faulí described a desire to complete the project in roughly a decade, cautioning that this is not a firm commitment.
• Funding relies largely on ticket sales—4.8 million paid entries in 2024—and plans for the main Glory façade access face City Council mediation due to resident opposition and housing guarantees.