The works of the Sagrada Família were advancing like never before when the pandemic stopped everything. The horizon for the end of Gaudí's magnum opus was at that time in 2026 to coincide with the centenary of the architect's death. The global confinement blew up that objective, but the rapid recovery of tourist activity and with it, the basilica's income has allowed the work to recover at its best pace. The completion of the four towers of the evangelists, which this Sunday were illuminated for the first time after being blessed, is an example of this. From now on, the works are concentrated on the tower of Jesus, the tallest, to have it ready in 2026 and the completion of the basilica complex is expected for 2033, 150 years after Gaudí took on the project.
“If we do not have a major setback like the pandemic, in a maximum of ten years the Sagrada Família will be finished,” maintains the president of the Construction Board, Esteve Camps to La Vanguardia. Since the calendar was suspended due to the forced stoppage of works, it is the first time that a completion year has been set. “The pandemic left us without tourism for two years, which is our only income, and while we were closed we used the Patronat's reserves to complement the employees' ERTOs; The level of tourism now is the same as in 2019, we have recovered the reserves and if there are no surprises in ten years the construction will be finished,” Camps maintains.
The works face their final stretch after completing the four towers of the evangelists, 135 meters high. They are those of Mateu, Marc, Lluc and Joan, with which 13 of the 18 projected towers are completed. “Gaudí was looking for verticality, as a way to represent ascension, spiritual elevation,” explains Jordi Faulí, the architect director of the temple, where he has worked for 33 years. The sculptures, the ox, the lion, the eagle and the angel that symbolize each evangelist, are the work of Xavier Medina Campeny. Each of the pieces weighs no more and no less than nine tons and the process of completing each pinnacle has been the same: first the wings, then the book and finally the sculpture. The weight and dimensions of each piece have forced assembly to be carried out on days with favorable weather conditions.
Yesterday, the meeting of the Castellers of the Sagrada Família, those of Sants, Sarrià and the Colla Castellera de l'Esquerra de l'Eixample culminated with four simultaneous pillars to celebrate the completion of the four towers, although today will be their installation day long. At the moment, the municipal permit provides for daily lighting from today until January 7. While the Illumination Plan for the monument has just been drawn up, those responsible for the basilica hope to continue illuminating the towers of the evangelists as they do with the star of Mary every night from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The next construction milestone will be the completion of the tower of Jesus, the central and tallest one in the basilica. These works also involve finishing the transept room, 66 meters high. From there you can access the spectacular cross that will crown the structure. This room – now with provisional and restricted access – will have a privileged view over the main nave of the temple and has stone steps to host small events.
“The cross that crowns the tower of Jesus is a very complex element and the objective is to have a full-scale prototype next year and with the original materials to be able to carry out tests,” maintains Faulí. The prototype is already being built in Germany. If the inauguration of the star of Maria became quite an event two years ago, this cross is destined to be a central element of the ensemble. It will consist of four arms and will measure 17 meters high and 13.50 meters wide. It can be visited although the format has not been defined, since the space admits a maximum of ten people at a time.
Next year, the construction board hopes to finish the body of the tower, up to 140 meters and during 2025 build the terminal and the cross so that the entire complex will be ready in 2026. During 2024, another focus of work will be the chapel of the Assumpta, “which we hope to have finished during 2025 – Camps points out – and then all efforts will focus on the Glòria façade; "Now we are in a moment of enormous satisfaction, the completion of the evangelists' towers marks the beginning of the final stretch of the works of the Sagrada Família." The Construction Board already has the licenses to build the four towers on the Glòria façade and for the column structure that supports them. “This will allow us to finish the temple.”
The license will be pending to finish the last row of the portico, the bridge over Mallorca Street and the grand staircase, which involves the demolition of several buildings. The controversy is served. “Months ago I asked to meet with Laia Bonet – first deputy mayor – and as soon as she wants we will sit down to talk about this issue – Camps maintains – we will work for a fair agreement for everyone to be able to finish Gaudí's project.” This façade narrates the origin and end of the human being and the paths that according to Jesus lead to personal fulfillment and eternal life. It is a work of great complexity that, in addition to the towers and the portico, includes more than one hundred sculptures and three levels of façade.
