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IN BRIEF
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In Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia is about to reach its final stage: the completion, expected as early as next year, of its eighteenth tower, that of Jesus Christ, soaring to 172.5 meters. A vibrant nod to the centenary of Antoni Gaudí (1926–2026) for this monumental project initiated in 1882, which has become the emblem of a stone dream that continues to amaze.
Majestic and sometimes controversial, the basilica is nearing its completion — although some finishing touches delayed by the pandemic will still need refining — under the amazed eyes of nearly 4 million visitors, enveloped by its stained glass in an almost unreal light.
The Sagrada Familia is experiencing its last great thrills of construction: the completion of its 18th tower, dedicated to Jesus Christ, is announced for next year, the climax of a project commenced in 1882 and shaped by the genius of Antoni Gaudí. In the shadow of its spires, a century is about to close — June 1926 – June 2026 — as the basilica enters its final phase, despite delays linked to Covid. A monument as admired as it is debated, the Catalan masterpiece is offering a (almost) definitive conclusion for the delight of its 4 million visitors each year, and fits into a season where many icons are reopening or transforming, from Notre-Dame de Paris to other cultural sites around the world.
As the towers of Notre-Dame de Paris have just welcomed their visitors again after five years of restoration, another spire is about to steal the spotlight. In Barcelona, the last and tallest tower of the Sagrada Familia is nearing the end of its construction. The timeline is no poetic coincidence: exactly one century after the death of Gaudí, who was struck by a tram on June 10, 1926, the basilica is finally reaching its horizon.
This tower of Jesus Christ, rising to about 172.5 meters, will elevate the silhouette of the Sagrada to a new majesty, designed to converse with the sky as much as with the city. It will not seal the last trowel stroke — some finishing touches and adjustments will continue — but it embodies the symbolic stage that has been awaited for decades.
A Spire to Touch the Sky
In the collective imagination, the Sagrada was already a cathedral of stone in motion. With its tallest tower, the building definitively secures its place in the Barcelona skyline. The play of stained glass, the forest of columns, the facades of sculpted narratives… all will converge to this central spire, conceived as a synthesis of the work: a vertical leap, a breath of light, an architectural and spiritual sign at once.
From 1882 to Tomorrow: A Timeless Construction Site
The first stone was laid in 1882. A year later, Antoni Gaudí officially joined the project, infusing it with an unprecedented language, blending Gothic, Art Nouveau, and absolutely audacious formal inventions. He sculpted the basilica as a living organism, where the stone seems to grow, breathe, and vibrate. From the outside, the spires burst forth in clusters; inside, the light filtered through multicolored stained glass transforms hours into seasons and steps into prayers.
More than a century later, the site approaches completion. Unsurprisingly, recent history has imposed a slowdown: the Covid pandemic delayed several stages, so the tower of Jesus Christ will be followed by final phases of construction. Nevertheless, the essential is there, and one can already speak of an end (or almost) for one of the longest built monuments in Europe.
June 1926 – June 2026, a Century in the Form of a Nod
The temptation was great to coincide the last major spire with the centenary of Gaudí’s death. The architect’s memory permeates every detail: from the design of the pillars to the skin of the facades, everything bears his signature. Completing this tower at the dawn of June 2026 is akin to closing a narrative loop that began on a tragic evening in 1926 — while signifying that the work, fundamentally, retains its unfinished quality, characteristic of great cathedrals.
Gaudí, Creator of Stone and Light
Born in 1852 in Reus, Catalonia, Antoni Gaudí was not destined to change the face of architecture to this extent. Settled in Barcelona, he was admitted to the School of Architecture in the 1870s and opened his workshop shortly thereafter. His encounter with the industrialist Eusebi Güell acted as an accelerator of legend: ambitious commissions, an open-air laboratory, and boldness embraced.
Between 1900 and 1910, Gaudí shines: Park Güell, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Bellesguard residence… the city becomes a showcase. Several of his works are now classified as Unesco World Heritage, recognition of a Catalan modernism brought to incandescence. From 1914, he devoted himself almost exclusively to the Sagrada, tuning every line as one tunes an instrument, before passing away in 1926. He now rests in the chapel of Carmen, at the very heart of the basilica he envisioned.
A Hybrid Style, Between Gothic and Catalan Modernism
The Sagrada Familia is a cabinet of curiosities on a monumental scale: slender arches inspired by Gothic, sensual curves of Art Nouveau, organic textures, and abundant biblical symbols. The facades tell stories, the towers sing, the capitals whisper. And when the sun shines through the stained glass, the interior metamorphoses into a sea of colors — all proof of an inventiveness that has never ceased to amaze… and sometimes to divide, like all works ahead of their time.
The Countdown and… What Remains to Be Done
The tower of Jesus Christ is not a final point, but a striking comma. Finishing touches, access arrangements, decorative elements, and technical adjustments will stretch on for a few more years. The goal is clear: to deliver a basilica that is both faithful to the spirit of Gaudí and perfectly welcoming for the public. Already, over 4 million visitors roam every year through this stone vessel; therefore, the phasing of the works will remain precise to allow for contemplation.
A Visit That Changes with the Light
Golden morning or blazing twilight? The Sagrada Familia is explored like revisiting a cult film, at different hours to capture different nuances. Climb when possible in a tower to understand the curves, settle for a moment under the canopy of columns, and let the light paint your gaze. The monument is not only to be seen: it is to be lived.
Traveling to Barcelona, Today and Tomorrow
Great icons are awakening everywhere. This is evidenced by the reopening of the New Hope–Lambertville bridge in the United States, a sign of a mobility that is regaining its breath, like the towers of Notre-Dame in Paris which have recently welcomed the public again. In this context, preparing an escape to Barcelona feels like a promise.
In terms of budget and comfort, enthusiasts of good deals will be able to take advantage of the Amex Platinum travel benefits to optimize flights, hotels, and lounges. And if dreaming of gentler itineraries, crossing Europe by land has never been so appealing: night trains, careful connections, and inspirations to glean in this route to visit countries without flying.
Moreover, the Iberian Peninsula is already looking further: a step closer to a Spain–Morocco tunnel is the talk of engineers and dreams for travelers. If one day this link becomes reality, the Sagrada Familia will be at the crossroads of even richer flows, between Europe and Africa.
Everywhere, culture is strengthening its walls. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Motown Museum in Detroit is expanding once again, proving that places of memory and creation have not said their last word. The Barcelona basilica is part of this same dynamic: reinventing itself without betraying itself.
Practical Information for the Curious
The demand is strong, especially as the completion of the tower of Jesus Christ approaches. Remember to book your tickets in advance and choose times that maximize the effect of the stained glass (morning or late afternoon). For official information and construction updates, keep an eye on the dedicated site: sagrada-familia.fr. And if you are coming by land, consider high-speed lines and overnight connections: it’s often gentler, just as quick, and perfectly in the spirit of a city that is visited at a measured pace.
