The upper arm of the cross over the Jesus Christ Tower of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona was mounted yesterday, marking the completion of the tower’s exterior structures. Work inside the structure will continue during 2027 and 2028. With this installation, the cross becomes the highest point in the entire Temple: the element measures 4.5 x 4.5 x 4.9 meters and its placement concludes the set of the monument’s six central towers.
The tower of Jesus Christ occupies the central position in the system of towers of the Sagrada Familia. Arranged around it are the four towers of the Evangelists, each connected to the main tower by a bridge, and the tower of the Virgin Mary, internally connected to the tower of Jesus Christ. The tower has a dodecagonal plan and reaches an overall height of 172.5 meters. It consists of twelve levels of panels, the construction of which began on October 16, 2018, at 85 meters above sea level. The panels were made using a pre-stressed stone technique that combines stone and steel-a solution that allowed the elements to be prefabricated off-site, followed by their progressive transport and assembly. The last panel was completed on December 4, 2024, bringing the tower to 142.5 meters in height. At the base of the terminal appear inscriptions of praise to Christ, made of white glazed ceramic and brick, framed by palm motifs. This element measures 29 meters and its construction began in May 2025.
The tower is topped by a four-armed three-dimensional cross, also clad in glass and white glazed ceramic, 17 meters high and 13.5 meters wide. The first element laid was the lower arm, on October 27, 2025, reaching 162.91 meters. On February 20, 2026, the upper arm was placed, thus completing the external structure. The cross was made in Germany in 2025 and then almost entirely assembled on site. The white glazed ceramic components, the interior stone structure, and the stained glass windows were produced in various workshops and factories in Catalonia. Transported from Germany in modules, it was pre-assembled on a work platform placed 54 meters above the nave. It was installed by combining seven elements: the lower arm, the central core, the four side arms and, finally, the upper arm. Inside the latter, at the highest part, will be placed the sculpture of the Agnus Dei, the work of Italian artist Andrea Mastrovito. The lamb, as desired by Antoni Gaudí, will be visible from inside the cross itself.
The completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ coincides with the centenary of Gaudí’s death: a historic passage for the Sagrada Família and a significant tribute to its architect. Commemorative events dedicated to the figure of the Catalan master and the progress of the work are planned to mark the anniversary. The program can be found on the official website: https://sagradafamilia2026.org/
“The completion of the Jesus Christ Tower Cross represents much more than the conclusion of a construction phase: it is the result of years of work and study of Antoni Gaudí’s legacy. It is also a concrete commitment to the future, to make the completion of the Sagrada Família possible,” said Chief Architect Jordi Faulí.
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| Sagrada Familia, completed the exterior of the tower of Jesus Christ, the tallest in the Temple |
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