JOIN USThe Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, northern Spain, has entered its final stage of construction. It has been over 100 years since its foundation stone was laid and 90 years after its designer, Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, died.
Six new towers will be added to the Roman Catholic basilica, completing work that was begun by Antoni in 1882. The tallest of the six spires, the Tower of Jesus Christ, will measure more than 172 metres and make the basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the tallest religious building in Europe.
Jordi Fauli, the chief architect, said the structure is on track for completion in 2026, which will coincide with the centenary of Antoni’s death. However, Jordi said elements of decoration could take a further four to six years to finish. Only one facade of the basilica was finished when Antoni died in a trolley accident in 1926, and until 15 years ago, the structure was missing part of its roof.
The building is now in its 133rd year and is approximately 70 per cent complete. Once fully complete, it will feature 18 towers dedicated to religious figures, including the Virgin Mary and the four evangelists — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; the towers’ varying heights are designed to reflect their hierarchy.
The tallest of the six spires, the Tower of Jesus Christ, will be topped by a cross and rise directly above a chamber that was designed to support its weight and funnel sunlight into the church. Work has just been completed on the chamber, which is located 60 metres above the floor of the church and gives visitors greater proximity to the building’s brightly coloured, stained-glass windows and ornamental arched ceilings.
Intricately carved, tree-like columns support the tall ceilings, while the church’s highly decorated outer facades depict the life and teachings of Jesus. The project’s annual construction budget of $28 million is supplemented by visitor entrance fees ranging from $16 to $20.