One of the world’s most famous structures, which has been 144 years in the making, has just reached a major milestone on its quest to completion. 

Antoni Gaudi’s famous church, Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, has has the final piece of its central tower laid in place, meaning that the iconic structure has reached its maximum final hieght.

The building, once complete, will take over the Ulm Minister in Germany to become the world’s tallest church — with the tower of Jesus Christ standing at 172.5 meters tall and will be finished with a 17-meter-tall four-armed cross, according to the cathedral. The giant steel and glass cross was the final piece of the tower that was winched into position late last week. 

The La Sagrada Familia was designed by famed architect Antoni Gaudi, who designed the structure to feature 18 huge towers. Each tower, Gaudi said, would symbolise a different biblical figure – the 12 apostles, the four evangelists, the Virgin Mary and Jesus.

Multiple hurdles have impacted the already slow construction of the church, including the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. The completion date in 2026 will coincide with the centenary of Gaudi’s death, who is to this day buried in the church’s crypt.

If you’re keen to see Sagrada Familia complete, the church is set to hold a ceremony to mark the completion of the tower on the centenary for Gaudi’s death on June 10 of this year.

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