Spain’s Sagrada Familia reaches full height 144 years after first stone laid

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Associated PressFebruary 20, 2026 at 04:12 PM

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Barcelona's Sagrada Familia basilica reached its maximum height of 172.5 meters on Friday, 144 years after construction began in 1882. The placement of the upper arm of a cross atop the Tower of Jesus Christ, the church's central piece, marked a significant milestone in the ongoing project. Antoni Gaudí, the Catalan architect, never expected to see the Sagrada Familia completed in his lifetime; only one of its 18 towers was finished when he died in 1926. The Sagrada Familia became the world’s tallest church last year after another part of its central tower was lifted into place. While the basilica has reached its full height, the completion of the entire project is still several years away.

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Jordi Fauli 60% Spain 70% Tower of Jesus Christ ×275% Barcelona 80% Antoni Gaudi ×290% Sagrada Familia ×495%

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sagrada familia 100% antoni gaudi 80% architecture 70% basilica 60% construction 60% barcelona 50% tower of jesus christ 50% church 40%

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South China Morning Post

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Sagrada Familia

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sagrada familia antoni gaudi architecture basilica construction barcelona tower of jesus christ church

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