By most accounts, it’s currently the longest-running construction project in the world. And now, the completion of work on the iconic Barcelona church La Sagrada Familia, which began all the way back in 1882, is going to take even longer.
Barcelona-based daily El Periodico daily reports that work on the church, which began as the vision of master architect Antoni Gaudí, was slated to be completed in 2026. But a press conference Tuesday, Sep. 21 confirmed that the deadline won’t be met, in part because of delays related to COVID-19. Officials also provided new details about the impending completion of the Mare de Déu tower (tower of the Virgin).
El Periódico – 09/22/2021
El Periodico daily reports on the latest delay from what may be the longest-running construction project in the world.
One tower after the other… Slowly but surely, La Sagrada Familia has been growing bigger and higher before Barcelonians and visitors’ eager eyes for nearly 140 years. However, all will have to be a bit more patient before they see the famous architectural project finally completed. During Tuesday’s press conference, general director of the Construction Board of the Sagrada Familia, Xavier Martínez, and the architect director, Jordi Faulí, had some good and bad news to share.
As feared, La Sagrada Familia’s completion date has been delayed. Because of the pandemic, the halt put on the works in early March when Spain went into a national lockdown. So the hopes are dashed of the 2026 inauguration in what would have been the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death.
Although he excluded new predictions of completion until post-COVID normalcy is restored – no earlier than 2024 -, Martínez says: “Finishing in 2030, rather than being a realistic forecast, would be an illusion, starting the construction process will not be easy,” reports La Vanguardia.
But what’s a few more years when you already have waited 139, after all? However delayed, the construction will reach another milestone very soon with the completion of the Mare de Déu tower (tower of the Virgin), the first tower of the temple to be completed in 44 years and the second tallest spire of the complex. It will be crowned by a 12-pointed star which will be illuminated on December 8, Immaculate Conception Day.
Next would be the completion of the Evangelist Lucas tower and eventually, the tower of Jesus Christ, the most prominent of the Sagrada Familia, reaching 172.5 meters thanks to an illuminated 13.5 meters wide “great cross.” It will be made of glass and porcelain stoneware to reflect daylight and will be illuminated at night and project rays of light.
La Sagrada Familia through the years
La Sagrada Familia, 1889 – wikipedia
La Sagrada Familia through the years
La Sagrada Família, 1905 – commons.wikimedia.org
La Sagrada Família in 1915 – en.wikipedia.org
La Sagrada Familia, 1917 – ZUMA
La Sagrada Familia, 1926 – ZUMA
La Sagrada Familia, 1930 – wikipedia
La Sagrada Familia, 1964 – © Balcazar P.C/Entertainment Pictures via ZUMA Press
La Sagrada Familia, 1977 –ZUMA
Construction site inside La Sagrada Familia, 1991 – © Mary Evans via ZUMA Press
La Sagrada Familia, 2000 – ZUMA
La Sagrada Familia, 2005 – © Manuel Cohen/Aurimages via ZUMA Press
Pope Benedict XVI gets into the Glory Gate of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral to consecrate the temple, November 7, 2010 – EFE/ZUMApress.com
La Sagrada Familia, 2011 – Imago/ZUMAPRESS.com
La Sagrada Familia, 2016 – Manuel Cohen/Aurimages via ZUMA Press
La Sagrada Familia, 2018 – Announcement of the completion of the temple in 2016 – Marta Pü©Rez/EFE via ZUMA Press
La Sagrada Familia, 2021 – Matthias Oesterle/ZUMA Press Wire
Working model of the pinnacle of the Jesus Christ Tower – Matthias Oesterle/ZUMA Press Wire
Model of the Basilica La Sagrada Familia – Matthias Oesterle/ZUMA Press Wire
