The Sagrada Família takes its final shape
The Sagrada Família stands as both architectural marvel and cultural paradox—a century-long project blending Gaudí’s organic Art Nouveau vision with modern construction pragmatism. It’s now set to become the world’s tallest church, yet deliberately stays just shy of Barcelona’s natural peak, Montjuïc, as Gaudí believed human creations shouldn’t compete with divinity. The basilica draws over 5 million paid visitors annually, funding its own completion through tourism revenue rather than traditional donations, a shift from its original expiatory purpose.
Its design features morphing geometries inspired by nature: columns that branch like trees, honeycomb windows, and ceramic grape clusters. Construction accelerated recently under chief architect Jordi Faulí, with 14 of the planned 18 towers now standing. The project’s slow progress once symbolized endless delay in Catalan slang, but today it races toward a 2026 completion—proof that Gaudí’s wild aesthetic can endure even as modern builders interpret his legacy.