[Life in Spain] Completion in 2026!! Latest News on the Sagrada Familia✨🇪🇸

100 years after the death of architect Antoni Gaudí,
the 'Tower of Jesus Christ' is finally complete!👏👏

However, this is not the 'final completion,' as detailed interior work and the main entrance (the grand staircase in front of the Glory Façade) are scheduled to be developed afterward.

So, to catch a glimpse of the full 'Tower of Jesus Christ,' I took a day trip from Valencia to Barcelona!

Since I purchased the 'Abono Único,' a 30-day unlimited bus pass currently offered by the major Spanish bus company ALSA, the travel cost between Valencia and Barcelona was actually free✨

The downside is that it takes 4 hours one way, so if you want to get there faster and more comfortably, I recommend the Spanish high-speed train, Renfe♩

What about the current state of the Sagrada Familia that everyone is curious about?👀

Ta-da!!

The large cross at the highest point is the 'Tower of Jesus Christ'.
The cross is more three-dimensional and larger than I had imagined! I thought it would be slimmer.
It seems it hasn't been fully installed yet, so I started worrying on my own, thinking, 'What if it falls off?😨' (though that shouldn't happen).
In Spain, impossible things do happen, after all...😅

The 'Tower of Jesus Christ' will beapproximately 172.5 meters tall, making it the tallest building in Barcelona once completed.It is said to be characterized by a geometric and complex structure designed to let in light.
I thought, 'That's a rather odd height,' so I looked it up and found that it was based on the philosophy of the designer, Antoni Gaudí,'Human buildings should not exceed God's creations,'keeping it slightly lower than the highest natural point near Barcelona (Montjuïc Hill).🌲
True to Gaudí, who preached that 'Nature is a great teacher,' one can feel his respect for nature.

This is how it looks from the park in front of the Nativity Façade.

The 'Tower of the Virgin Mary,' which didn't fit in the photo earlier, is now on the far right.
The shot📸 from the park in front of the Nativity Façade is very popular and is packed with tour groups and school trip students.
Please be very careful of pickpockets while enjoying your photography.
If you come in the morning or early in the day, you can take beautiful photos with the sunlight. Plus, it's recommended because there are fewer people.
The photo above was taken around 2:00–3:00 PM, so there are some shadows in it.

For those who have tickets

As of April 2026, the entrance for ticket holders was on the left side when facing the front of the Nativity Façade. The right side (where the Tower of the Virgin Mary is) is the entrance for groups and tour guests.

From this photo, the shortest way to the entrance is to go straight ahead past where the security guard is standing, but it is currently under construction. You have to go around the park in front of the Nativity Façade to the other side.

When I came last summer, I could walk for free further than the area where the security guard in the photo is standing, so I was able to view the tower from the front for free, but now it is restricted to authorized personnel only due to construction. I wonder if it will be opened again after the construction is finished? Or will it become a paid area?

Upcoming events
2026 is the 100th anniversary of Gaudí's death & the year the Tower of Jesus Christ is completed!!🎉

On June 10th, the official completion and blessing ceremony will be held!
It will be a special ceremony, and a commemorative mass for invited guests will be held.
It is not yet certain, but a visit from the Pope is also planned!

On the weekend of June 13th, a parade will be held for the general public.
While the 10th is an official ceremony, this one is more about the whole city celebrating.
I hope this historic moment makes the news in Japan as well!

After finishing the sightseeing

I went all the way to Barcelona on a day trip almost just to see the Sagrada Familia, but it was more than worth it✨

This was my fourth time visiting the Sagrada Familia.
I saw it for the first time in July 2023. No matter how many times I visit, the excitement of that first time comes back. I was captivated by the beauty that is revealed little by little over the years, and I loved the time spent imagining, 'What will it be like when I come next time?'

With the completion of the 'Tower of Jesus Christ,' I hope that its unchanging form will continue to captivate the hearts of many people around the world and remain a lasting legacy.

July 2023.
My first visit to the Sagrada Familia.
Coming out of the subway, I was captivated by this breathtaking view.