Sagrada Familia, Antonio Gaudi’s famous yet unfinished monument, is making progress towards completion. Last week, construction of five out of six central towers was completed.
Since January of this year, two additional towers dedicated to Evangelists Matthew and John have been crowned with statues by sculptor Xavier Medina-Campen. The overseeing foundation, Junta Constructora del Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, announced a special Mass on November 12 to mark the inauguration and to initiate the illumination of four towers throughout the Christmas season.
Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia project, incorporating elements of modernism, Art Nouveau, and Gothic Revival, has been under construction for over 140 years and continues to attract millions of visitors annually. The first completed part, the Nativity Façade, influenced directly by Gaudi, has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status, along with six other Gaudi buildings in Barcelona.
Construction of Sagrada Familia has faced prolonged delays, partly due to the loss of some of Gaudi’s drawings and designs after his death in 1926. Critics have noted the challenges architects faced in adhering to Gaudi’s vision. Nevertheless, the unfinished state of the building adds to its enduring appeal, making Sagrada Familia one of the world’s most famous unfinished structures.
In 2019, the iconic monument finally received a building permit, 137 years after construction began. It is planned to complete construction by 2026, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death. In the same year, Barcelona is set to host the UIA Congress, becoming the UNESCO World Capital of Architecture.
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