The Sagrada Familia, the masterpiece of Spanish architectural genius Gaudí in Barcelona, became the world's tallest church on Thursday. With the completion of the central nave's roof hoisting on its central tower, the church's height has now reached 162.91 meters, slightly surpassing the spire of Germany’s Ulm Minster, which previously stood as the tallest at 161.53 meters.
Ulm Minster, a Gothic Lutheran church constructed between 1543 and 1890, had long held the title of the world's tallest church. That honor has now been claimed by the Sagrada Familia. Although the Sagrada Familia has not touted itself as the tallest church, data shows that it now stands more than one meter above its southern German counterpart.
The Sagrada Familia continues to expand: on Thursday morning, a crane hoisted the first section of the central tower—known as the “Tower of Jesus Christ”—onto the nave roof. The tower will be completed in the coming months, ultimately reaching a height of 172 meters and becoming Barcelona’s future highest point. The cross atop the tower stands 17 meters tall, crafted from white ceramic and crystal, dazzling in the sunlight; at night, it transforms into a beacon of light, symbolizing faith and hope and illuminating the entire city.
The first stone of the Sagrada Familia was laid in 1882, but Gaudí himself never expected the church to be completed in his lifetime. At the time of his death, only one of the many planned towers was finished. The church’s exquisite exterior and interior decoration will take years to complete, and church officials said earlier this year that full completion is expected in about 10 years.
Major Tourist Attraction, Accelerated Progress
In recent decades, as the church has become a major international tourist attraction, construction progress has accelerated. Visitors from around the world are drawn by Gaudí’s unique aesthetic, which blends Catholic symbolism with organic forms. Ticket sales fund the ongoing construction.
Last year, 4.9 million people paid to visit the church, with 15% of those visitors coming from the United States.