Barcelona's Sagrada Familia has officially taken its rightful place as the world's tallest church, surpassing Ulm Minster in Germany by a mere four feet six inches after the completion of a central tower section on Thursday. The towering basilica now stands at an impressive 534 feet and 8 inches above the city, shattering the previous record held by its German counterpart.
The stunning structure, masterminded by Antoni Gaudí, has been under construction since 1882, with only one of its towers being completed before the architect's passing. However, in recent decades, the basilica has become an international tourist sensation, drawing millions of visitors worldwide who are captivated by Gaudí's unique blend of Catholic symbolism and organic forms.
The Sagrada Familia's unprecedented growth is largely thanks to increased visitor numbers, with a staggering 4.9 million people paying entrance fees last year alone. The influx of revenue has allowed construction to accelerate, as funds from ticket sales now support the ongoing project.
While the church's facade work and interior decorating are expected to take several more years to complete, officials predict that the entire structure will be finished around a decade from now. In preparation for next year's 100th anniversary of Gaudí's passing, the basilica plans to host several events celebrating his legacy, cementing its status as one of the world's most iconic and awe-inspiring architectural wonders.
As construction continues to rise – literally – with the central Tower of Jesus Christ expected to reach a staggering 172 meters by completion, the Sagrada Familia solidifies its claim as an engineering marvel and testament to human ingenuity.
The stunning structure, masterminded by Antoni Gaudí, has been under construction since 1882, with only one of its towers being completed before the architect's passing. However, in recent decades, the basilica has become an international tourist sensation, drawing millions of visitors worldwide who are captivated by Gaudí's unique blend of Catholic symbolism and organic forms.
The Sagrada Familia's unprecedented growth is largely thanks to increased visitor numbers, with a staggering 4.9 million people paying entrance fees last year alone. The influx of revenue has allowed construction to accelerate, as funds from ticket sales now support the ongoing project.
While the church's facade work and interior decorating are expected to take several more years to complete, officials predict that the entire structure will be finished around a decade from now. In preparation for next year's 100th anniversary of Gaudí's passing, the basilica plans to host several events celebrating his legacy, cementing its status as one of the world's most iconic and awe-inspiring architectural wonders.
As construction continues to rise – literally – with the central Tower of Jesus Christ expected to reach a staggering 172 meters by completion, the Sagrada Familia solidifies its claim as an engineering marvel and testament to human ingenuity.
, I mean, who needs therapy when you can just visit one of the most famous (and crowded) tourist spots in the world? 4.9 million visitors last year alone is insane, guess that's what happens when Gaudí's masterpiece becomes a global sensation 
. And now it's gonna be even more overcrowded with those anniversary events coming up... just what I needed to plan my next trip: more humanity 
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He was a total genius w/ his designs! 
And can u even imagine how much time & effort went into buildin this monstir? 
️ I've herd its been under constructn since 1882!!! 
thats over a centur! lolol. Im defo goin there ASAP w/ my squad 
. The fact that it's gonna be finishd in like, a decade or somethin 
. The influx of revenue will undoubtedly support the completion of the facade work and interior decorating, ensuring that the structure's full potential is realized 
.
. With its blend of Catholic symbolism and organic forms, the basilica has already solidified its place in the pantheon of architectural wonders 
. The upcoming events celebrating Gaudí's legacy will undoubtedly cement its status as an awe-inspiring masterpiece for generations to come 
I mean, can you even believe how long it's been taking them to finish this thing? Like, it started in '82! My grandparents were still young when they saw the plans for it. And now it's finally becoming this crazy, towering monstrosity 
Can't wait to see what events they have planned for next year, maybe a concert or exhibit?