The Sagrada Familia, Barcelona’s architectural crown jewel, is now looking forward to its completion in 2026, over a century since its inception. The basilica, a symphony in stone that began its rise in 1882, is expected to culminate with the installation of its final tower, dedicated to Jesus Christ. This momentous occasion will mark not only the completion of one of the world’s most intricate and prolonged construction projects but will also coincide with the centennial death anniversary of its visionary creator, Antoni Gaudí.
Officials have confirmed ,“The Chapel of the Assumption is expected to be finished in 2025 and the tower of Jesus Christ, in 2026.” This 172.5-meter tower, crowned with a monumental four-armed cross, will elevate the Sagrada Familia to new heights, surpassing Germany’s Ulm Minster to become the world’s tallest church.
The basilica’s journey to completion has been an odyssey marked by interruptions, including the devastating Spanish Civil War, which led to the destruction of Gaudí’s models and plans, and the more recent COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these setbacks, the organization managing the site has persevered, adapting Gaudí’s original designs using the fragments that survived and modern reconstruction techniques.
The project, a testament to private patronage, finished 2023 with income of 126.9 million EUR, signaling strong financial health. With 52 percent of the funds earmarked for construction, it has overcome financial hurdles.
This colossal feat is not only a testament to Gaudí’s architectural genius but also to the dedication and ingenuity of the generations of craftsmen and architects who have contributed to the basilica’s growth. UNESCO recognized the building’s significance in 1984, and Pope Benedict XVI consecrated it for religious worship in 2010.
While the main structure is set to be completed by 2026, additional work on sculptures, decorative details, and the controversial stairway, projected to stretch across two city blocks, is slated to continue until at least 2034. This stairway, purported by some Gaudí scholars to be part of the original design, remains a matter of debate and negotiation with the local authorities.
The Sagrada Familia has been recognized as a marvel of the contemporary world, although opinions have varied over time. Salvador Dalí famously characterized its beauty as both “terrifying and edible beauty,” whereas George Orwell famously criticized it as “one of the most hideous buildings in the world.” Orwell also remarked that the anarchists displayed poor taste by not destroying it when they had the opportunity.
Relevant articles:
– After 140 years, Barcelona’s famous Sagrada Familia will finally be completed in 2026
– barcelona’s sagrada familia set to be completed in 2026, in time for antoni gaudí’s centenary, Designboom, Mon, 25 Mar 2024 15:46:53 GMT
– Sagrada Familia in Barcelona ‘will be completed in 2026’, The Guardian, Mon, 25 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT
– Barcelona’s famously unfinished Sagrada Familia church to be completed by 2026, Sky News, Mon, 25 Mar 2024 11:24:29 GMT