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Will Barcelona’s Infamous Unfinished Cathedral Ever Be Completed?
Why hasn’t it been finished after a century of construction?
In 1882, construction began on the Sagrada Família cathedral in Barcelona. The cathedral was impressive in both its scope and size. Its design, wrought from the mind of the controversial Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, has drawn praise and evoked feelings of whimsy ever since. Images of the cathedral are instantly recognizable, even if people don’t know exactly what it is. The towering spires look like melting wax or wet sand. Spaniards and Catholics around the world had high hopes for the new church, but after nearly 150 years of construction, the church is still nowhere near being completed.
Note that the Sagrada Familia should not be confused with the Cathedral of Barcelona. Many people refer to the Sagrada Família as simply the Barcelona Cathedral, but that can draw confusion with the actual Cathedral of Barcelona, which stands just a couple of miles away. The Cathedral of Barcelona is an impressive church in its own right, and it also took centuries to reach completion, so mistaken identity is not only possible but common.
In 2010, the unfinished cathedral reached the midway point in its construction lifespan, allowing the Papacy to consecrate the site. It took 127 years for the Sagrada Família to reach 50% completion. In an age where people are used to skyscrapers going up in a matter of years, it is nearly inconceivable to think of a building taking more than a century to complete. (For example, One World Trade Center, the tallest building in North America, took just eleven years to finish.)
Today, the cathedral is a dominant part of the Barcelona skyline, and it is frequently seen flanked by modern cranes, scaffolding, and heavy construction equipment. Work continues, but saying it continues apace would be a stretch. Optimistic observers hoped that the cathedral would be finished in 2026 in time for the 100-year anniversary of the death of the architect Gaudí, but now that goal seems unobtainable. (At the time of Gaudí’s death, the cathedral was less than a quarter complete. He is buried inside the building that he dedicated his life to.)
