Barcelona's Sagrada Familia has taken another giant leap towards becoming the world's tallest church, literally and figuratively. After a monumental crane operation on Thursday morning, the iconic basilica now stands at an astonishing 162.91 meters (534ft 8in) above the city, surpassing Germany's Ulm Minster by a mere 1.38 metres (4ft 6in). While the church hasn't officially staked its claim to this title, the numbers are undeniably there to compare.
The Sagrada Familia's mastermind architect Antoni Gaudí envisioned his creation as something extraordinary, but even he never expected it to reach such dizzying heights. The central Tower of Jesus Christ, currently rising from the top of the church, is set to touch 172 meters when completion arrives in the coming months.
Construction on this architectural marvel began in 1882 with the placement of the first stone by Gaudí himself. However, at the time, he expected it would never see its full realization. In fact, only one of its towers was finished before his untimely passing. Fast forward to today, and the church has been transformed into a major international tourist attraction.
The influx of visitors has significantly accelerated construction efforts in recent decades. Last year alone, 4.9 million people paid their respects by paying entrance fees, with all that revenue now funding further progress on this grand project.
With its elaborate facades still to be finished and interior decorations yet to complete, the church is set for a decade of further work before its estimated completion date. A fitting tribute to Gaudí's legacy will also take place next year, marking the 100th anniversary of his passing with a series of events celebrating the enduring impact of this extraordinary man.
The Sagrada Familia continues to inspire awe in all who lay eyes on it, pushing boundaries and redefining architectural benchmarks.
The Sagrada Familia's mastermind architect Antoni Gaudí envisioned his creation as something extraordinary, but even he never expected it to reach such dizzying heights. The central Tower of Jesus Christ, currently rising from the top of the church, is set to touch 172 meters when completion arrives in the coming months.
Construction on this architectural marvel began in 1882 with the placement of the first stone by Gaudí himself. However, at the time, he expected it would never see its full realization. In fact, only one of its towers was finished before his untimely passing. Fast forward to today, and the church has been transformed into a major international tourist attraction.
The influx of visitors has significantly accelerated construction efforts in recent decades. Last year alone, 4.9 million people paid their respects by paying entrance fees, with all that revenue now funding further progress on this grand project.
With its elaborate facades still to be finished and interior decorations yet to complete, the church is set for a decade of further work before its estimated completion date. A fitting tribute to Gaudí's legacy will also take place next year, marking the 100th anniversary of his passing with a series of events celebrating the enduring impact of this extraordinary man.
The Sagrada Familia continues to inspire awe in all who lay eyes on it, pushing boundaries and redefining architectural benchmarks.
. I mean, the numbers are crazy, but what's even crazier is how many people have come together to make this happen - from the initial stone placement to the massive crane operation yesterday 
. It just goes to show that with dedication & a clear vision, you can turn something into an iconic landmark like Sagrada Familia 
. I'm curious to see what it'll look like when all the decorations are in place 
.
did u know that gaudí himself didn't even imagine the church would be completed? 
and now its just getting more and more amazing 
i cant wait to see it finished, maybe one day ill get to see it in person 
! Who would've thought his original vision would be surpassed by the world's tallest church? 
And can you even imagine what he'd be thinking if he knew it was gonna reach these dizzying heights 
. Anyways, I'm all for the influx of tourism funds – let's keep making this masterpiece shine 
. A 100th anniversary celebration next year sounds like a must-go event for me! 
, but I guess all those tourists finally paid off 
. In fact, 4.9 million people visited last year alone, which is crazy for a city like Barcelona 
. I mean, only one of its towers was even finished before he passed away 
. Anyway, can't wait to see it all done in 10 years 
? Mind blown! 
. The Sagrada Familia's completion is gonna be this massive global event that'll put America's Apollo missions to shame 
. And let's not forget, this whole thing has been made possible by tourism revenue – it's a case of private investment meeting public interest 
. We need to have an honest conversation about sustainability and urban planning in the face of our growing architectural ambitions 
.
I mean, 172 meters?! That's just crazy talk! And can you imagine being one of those people who gets to see this finished project after all these years? It's like, the ultimate fanboy/fangirl experience! 
And 4.9 million visitors last year alone? Mind blown! 
. The fact that it's still got a way to go before completion is just a testament to how intricate the details are - love the idea of a decade-long project to finish everything off 
. And can't wait for those events next year celebrating Gaudí's legacy 
. The way they're using modern tech to speed up the construction process must've been a game-changer. And can you imagine the engineering genius that goes into building something like this? 
. I'm loving how they're getting closer to breaking that 173-meter mark, but at the same time, I'm also thinking about how Antoni Gaudí would be like "no way, guys" if he knew his masterpiece was gonna be this tall 
. It's wild to think about all those years of construction and how it went from being a dream project to an actual tourist sensation – 4.9 million visitors last year? That's insane! 
. I mean, 4.9 million visitors last year is insane! It's like people just can't get enough of this stunning architecture