Spirit in the sky: Barcelona's Sagrada Família becomes the world's tallest church

Thursday marked a milestone in the history of world architecture when Barcelona's Sagrada Familia officially overtook Germany's Ulm Münster as the tallest church on the planet.

At 162.91 metres high, Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece is just 1.38 metres ahead of the Gothic Lutheran cathedral in Germany, which held the record at 161.53 metres since its completion in 1890.

The installation of the first part of the Tower of Jesus Christ at the top of the central nave was the key moment that enabled this new record to be achieved. A crane installed the piece on Thursday morning, in a process that forms part of the final phase of construction of this central tower, which will reach 172 metres when it is completely finished in the coming months.

From unfinished project to global tourist attraction

Since the first stone was laid in 1882, the Sagrada Família has been synonymous with architectural and religious patience. Gaudí never expected to see his work completed during his lifetime, and at the time of his death only one of the multiple towers was finished.

However, in recent decades the pace of construction has accelerated dramatically thanks to revenue generated by tourism.

In 2024, 4.9 million people paid to visit the basilica, 15% of them from the United States. This steady flow of visitors, attracted by Gaudí's unique aesthetic that combines Catholic symbolism with organic forms, finances the ongoing construction. Work on the façades and interior decoration will continue for several more years, and the construction is expected to be completely finished in about a decade.

The year 2026 will mark the centenary of Antoni Gaudí's death, and the church is preparing various events to celebrate the legacy of the Catalan architect. His work, which includes other iconic buildings in Barcelona and other Spanish cities, has left an indelible mark on world architecture.

The Sagrada Familia, now the tallest church in the world, stands as the greatest testament to his creative genius and unique vision of sacred art.