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Sagrada Família Tops Out at 172.5 Meters as Final Cross Arm Is Installed

The milestone sets up a June inauguration tied to Gaudí’s centenary, with interior works still years from completion.

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A crane lifts a final piece of a cross atop the Sagrada Familia's Tower of Jesus Christ in Barcelona
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Overview

  • Workers placed the upper arm of the four‑armed cross on February 20, completing the exterior of the Tower of Jesus Christ and setting the basilica’s height at 172.5 meters.
  • The basilica now stands as the world’s tallest church, surpassing Germany’s Ulm Minster after the latest addition to the central tower.
  • Scaffolding around the central tower is slated to be removed by June, and the tower is scheduled to be blessed on June 10 during centenary events for Antoni Gaudí.
  • The glass‑ and ceramic‑clad cross is 17 meters tall and 13.5 meters wide, was manufactured in Germany in 2025, assembled on site in modules, and will house an Agnus Dei sculpture by Andrea Mastrovito.
  • Interior work on the central tower continues into 2027–2028, overall completion is estimated to take roughly a decade, visitor ticket sales (4.8 million in 2024) fund progress, a dispute over the Glory facade entrance remains under mediation, and any papal visit is unconfirmed.