One-hundred forty-two years in the making
the time of Gaudí’s death in 1926, less than a quarter of the basilica had been completed. Over the decades, subsequent architects and artisans have worked tirelessly to carry on Gaudí’s legacy, striving to fulfill his vision for La Sagrada Família. Modern technology has enabled architects to realize Gaudí’s original designs with greater precision and fidelity, incorporating advancements in engineering and materials. In 2022, Barcelona celebrated the completion of the Virgin Mary Tower and, later, in 2023, the end of construction of the four Evangelist towers. After so much time and effort, the church foundation announced that the basilica would finally be completed in 2026 to mark the centenary of Gaudí’s death.
The cornerstone was laid in 1882 under the guidance of the original architect of the basilica, Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano, but when he stepped down a year later, Antoni Gaudí took over. Gaudí poured his soul into La Sagrada Família, dedicating the latter part of his life to the project that would become intrinsically linked to him. Gaudí’s vision for La Sagrada Família was ambitious and unconventional, drawing inspiration from nature, religion, and Catalan culture. He aimed not just to build a church but to create a monument that would transcend time and leave a lasting impression on humanity. Inspired by symbolism, he designed twelve towers to represent the apostles, four additional towers to represent the evangelists and one dedicated to the Virgin Mary. All of them are anchored by the central and largest tower dedicated to Jesus. At
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