Barcelona’s Basilica of Sagrada Família, designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, is set to be complete within the next decade after 143 years of construction
An iconic Spanish landmark 143 years in the making is set to finish construction in the next decade.
The Basilica of Sagrada Família, Barcelona’s most famous building, has been under construction for over a century, but it has now been announced that works on the landmark could be completed in the next decade.
Construction started on the Sagrada Família back in 1882, with famous architect Antoni Gaudí taking over a year later. The building management team have now said that if all schedules were confirmed and deadlines met, the the basilica would be finished in 10 years.
Current works are focused on the Glory façade, the main one facing Mallorca Street, with designs featuring around 100 sculptures, and the Tower of Jesus Christ, which is expected to be completed by 2026.
The building management team is currently waiting for the city council’s permission to set up scaffolding as the basis of the baptistery, and the four towers which will form the façade, have already been completed.
According to Catalan News, the president of the Sagrada Família’s construction board, Esteve Camps, said that despite works on the façade having already started, the team is still negotiating with the city council regarding the final design of the basilica. Mr. Camps added that controversy had arisen regarding a staircase, that according to the construction board, Gaudí designed on top of Mallorca Street.
For the feature to be built, nearby buildings would need to be demolished, causing around 3,000 residents to face eviction. In 2021, Catalans News spoke with the neighbour’s association after it became clear that the construction board is unwilling to give up on the staircase, as they are just “Gaudí’s disciples,” and it is part of the basilica’s design.
The Tower of Jesus Christ will be the tallest tower of the basilica, measuring 172.5 metres tall. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The viewpoint will be a cross. However, due to security issues, the tower will not be accessible until at least 2027, despite an inauguration planned for June 2026, the centenary of Gaudí’s death.
The tower, which is currently under construction, measures 142.5 metres and is already the tallest tower of the building after surpassing the 138-meter tall Tower of the Virgin Mary.
Xavier Martínez, the construction board’s general director, recently commented that the unfinished basilica had an all-time high number of visitors in 2024. Around 4.83 million people visited the Sagrada Familia last year, which was a 2.7 per cent increase compared to 2023. “We cannot grow anymore,” Xavier added.
In 2024, the board saw an income of €133.9 million (£111.8 million), and €86.2 million (£71.8 million) in expenditure, over half of which was spent on the basilica’s construction. Builders expect an investment of around €55 (£45.9 million) and €60 million (£50.1 million) in the construction budget for 2025.