Sagrada Família’s Tower of Jesus Christ Tops Out at 172.5 Meters, Now the World’s Tallest Church

Overview

• Crews lifted the final element—a four-armed, internally lit cross—into place on February 20, bringing the basilica to its full exterior height of 172.5 meters (566 feet).
• The newly completed central spire confers on the Sagrada Família the title of tallest church tower in the world.
• The cross was fabricated in sections by artisans in Germany using glass, ceramic tile, and Catalan stone, then shipped by ferry and truck to Barcelona for crane installation.
• Project leaders plan a public event on June 10 to mark the milestone, coinciding with the centenary of Gaudí’s death and Barcelona’s role as UNESCO World Capital of Architecture 2026, with the UIA World Congress later in June.
• Although the central tower’s exterior is finished, officials say broader construction and interior and decorative works will continue for roughly the next decade.