![Sagrada Familia: The 144-Year Build](https://cdn.slatesource.com/1/7/3/1737dda6-6d83-46fb-a8b3-7f2f1feb87dd.webp)

# Sagrada Familia: The 144-Year Build

- [Made in Slatesource](https://slatesource.com/@steph/sagrada-familia-the-144-year-build)
- By [Steph](https://slatesource.com/@steph)
- Created on Jul 17, 2026

![Travel photo 1](https://cdn.slatesource.com/1/1/d/11d91c1d-9889-457b-a4f0-db376f6381dc.webp)

![Travel photo 2](https://cdn.slatesource.com/d/0/e/d0e7ead9-2fff-486a-b2e1-16e33397467e.webp)

![Travel photo 3](https://cdn.slatesource.com/3/f/4/3f43a716-8438-444f-9af4-5d48988c6f25.webp)

## The TallestTallest ChurchChurch on EarthEarth, CompleteComplete at LastLast

On 10 JuneJune 20262026, PopePope LeoLeo XIVXIV celebratedcelebrated MassMass insideinside a basilicabasilica that had been underunder constructionconstruction for 144144 yearsyears. The TowerTower of JesusJesus ChristChrist, at 172172.5 metresmetres, had been completedcompleted in FebruaryFebruary, makingmaking the SagradaSagrada FamiliaFamilia the tallesttallest churchchurch in the worldworld. ElevenEleven popespopes reignedreigned whilewhile it was being builtbuilt. AntoniAntoni GaudiGaudi, who tooktook over the projectproject in 18831883, dieddied in 19261926, runrun over by a tramtram, withoutwithout seeingseeing a singlesingle towertower finishedfinished. He saidsaid his clientclient was in no hurryhurry. He was rightright.

Height

172.5 m (tallest church on Earth)

Construction span

1882 to 2026, 144 years

Popes who reigned during construction

11

Towers total

18 (six completed in 2026)

Annual visitors pre-completion

4.5 million

journey·7 Eras

# The 144-Year Build

Construction Phase

/

Era

The First Stone (1882)

Ambition

"Francisco de Paula del Villar breaks ground. A year in, he resigns. Antoni Gaudi, thirty years old, takes over."

> My client is in no hurry.

Gaudi refused planning permission fees, telling officials the future generations who would benefit from the building would pay them. He was fined. He paid from his own pocket.

The 172.5-metre Tower of Jesus Christ was deliberately designed to be 5.2 metres shorter than the hill of Montjuic behind it. Gaudi believed no human work should exceed God's creation of the natural landscape.

[Official Sagrada Familia site](https://sagradafamilia.org/en/?utm_source=slatesource)