The increase came after part of the central tower, dedicated to Jesus Christ, was placed on the roof, the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported.
Construction of the Sagrada Família (literal meaning: Basilica and Temple of Atonement of the Holy Family) began in 1882 and Gaudí knew he would never see its completion. Only one tower was finished when he died in 1926.
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Since then, the pace of works has accelerated considerably, partly thanks to tourism income. Last year, 4.9 million people visited the basilica, the entrance fees of which go directly to its construction.
Sagrada Familia highest in the world
The central tower will ultimately reach a height of 172.5 meters, and the complete finishing of the interior and facades is not expected for another decade, without taking into account the installation of decorative elements, which will take several years longer.
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When completed, the Sagrada Familia will have taken longer to build than the Egyptian pyramids, and only 50 years less than the Great Wall of China.
The Sagrada Familia outshines this Ulm Münster. © Gettyimages
Gaudi’s architectural style, which blends Catholic symbolism with organic forms, continues to garner worldwide admiration. Next year, the centenary of his death will be commemorated with various events. The Sagrada Familia may not have formally claimed the record, but the numbers speak for themselves: it is now 1.38 meters higher than its German counterpart and continues to grow.
What you (maybe) didn’t know about the Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia has been under construction for 143 years. Construction works started in 1882 and are expected to be completed by 2035.
Even though Antoni’s name is Gaudi inextricably linked to the basilica, yet he was not the original architect. That was Francisco de Paula del Villar, but Gaudi took over the project in 1883 and radically changed the design.
The design contains 18 towers. These symbolize Jesus, Mary, the four evangelists and the twelve apostles.
At the beginning of the construction of the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi built a school on the site. The school was built so that the children of the construction workers could come here while their fathers spent days and nights building the basilica. The school, which was designed in 1909, is now the setting of an exhibition about La Sagrada Familia.
Gaudi is buried in the crypt of the basilica. His grave is under the altar. At his death, barely a quarter of the project had been completed.
During the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the original design was partly destroyed. Anarchists broke in and set fire to the tomb. Many models and plans were lost, forcing later architects to improvise.
Antoni Gaudí designed the Sagrada Família with the intention of it being the tallest building in Barcelona, but without surpassing the city’s mountains. Gaudí believed that a man-made structure should never surpass the “creation of God,” which he believed was nature.
Maximum height Sagrada Familia 172.5 meters
For example, the Tower of Jesus Christ, which will be crowned with a cross and a viewing point inside, is expected to reach its maximum height of 172.5 meters in the coming months, just slightly lower than the 177 meters of Montjuïc mountain.