Theoretically, the construction of the Sagrada Familia should be finished in 2026.
The death of Gaudi was one of the first instances to have halted the progress of the church's construction. Ten years later, when the Spanish Civil War broke out, the construction was halted. The vandals who destroyed the models and plans for the basilica did no favors to the progress.
Over the years, the construction of Sagrada Familia gained momentum but was temporarily halted again in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the basilica was reopened to key workers in July 2020 and now, the completion of Sagrada Familia is advancing at a promising speed.
Five generations have watched the progress of the basilica. It is only poetically fitting that the fruition of this one-of-a-kind spectacle is now expected to be finished in 2026, which marks the centenary of Gaudi's death.
Barcelona's top attraction, Sagrada Familia, has repeatedly missed the completion date and has become the longest architectural project in the world. Over 140 years of slow progress, the structure has finally gained pace but two aspects may still be unfinished by 2026. The Director General of Sagrada Familia himself sees a realistic picture where it might even be 2030, 2035 or 2040 before the project is entirely finished.
Although the current estimated completion date is a few years away, it is still expected that artistic parts of the massive structure would still be under hammers and saws.
Yet another portion that might remain undone by 2026 as it requires demolishing several buildings and relocation of residents to provide access to the main façade, a feat that can only be planned and executed by Barcelona's City Council.
How to Enter Sagrada Familia?As the chief architect, Gaudi transformed the original plans of Sagrada Familia into an ambitious endeavor with his vision and skills. It is said that Gaudi was not a practicing Catholic but when he took on the project he became intensely dedicated and came to see it as a channel for Christian evangelism.
In Gaudi's opinion, his "client" (read: God) was never in a "hurry". Aware that the structure might not see completion in his lifetime, he extensively drew up models of Sagrada Familia, which when complete, would take up an entire block in the city.
Gaudi was also reluctant about funding the project through private investors. Sagrada Familia has been self-funded right from the start and continues to rely on donations and tourists pouring in from all over the world.
Creations of Antoni Gaudi in BarcelonaConstruction on Sagrada Família is not supported by any government or official church sources. Money from tickets purchased by tourists and private donations have been used to fund the construction. Being the most visited monument in Spain, Sagrada Familia sees visitors in millions every year. Although it faced a minor setback during the pandemic and the sharp dip in tourists, the wave is back up again with visitors coming from everywhere.
Book Sagrada Familia TicketsWith more than 100 pieces recomposed, five different computer programs and 3D printing have been put to use to speed up the process.
3D printing and Virtual Reality sets have helped visualize the designs and create dimensional simulations. An innovative tensioned stone technique has also greatly accelerated the construction time.
The construction of Sagrada Familia or Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is expected to be completed in 2026, the centenary of the death of chief architect Antoni Gaudi, who dedicated his life to this project. A good influx of funding, new innovations and technological advancements have sped up the construction process in recent years.
The construction of Sagrada Familia began in 1882 under Francisco de Paula del Villar.
Sagrada Familia's construction was hampered by the death of Antoni Gaudi. It was then delayed in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. After that, recently, construction was temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Sagrada Familia is far from being completed. While the plan had been to finish the work on the basilica in 2026, due to unexpected delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is expected that the work would take longer. According to Sagrada Familia's director general Xavier Martinez "It could be in 2030, 2035, 2040" before the basilica is completed. .
The steeples and most of the church's structure are to be completed by 2026. However, it might take longer to complete some other parts of the basilica; the decorative elements should be complete by 2030 or 2032, or even later.
The sculptures and symbols, as well as the main entrance of the Sagrada Familia will remain incomplete and could take a few years before its done.