In Spain, there’s one church which is set to become the tallest in the world – and it’s nearly complete.
Construction work on Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia has been ongoing for over a century but now, it becomes the tallest church in the world after its central tower was lifted into place.
The world-famous place of worship now stands at 534ft (162 metres) above the Spanish city after a crane placed part of the tower on the top of the nave on Thursday morning.
Work first started 144 years ago and by 2026, the central tower of Jesus Christ is due to be complete.
Once the top of the tower is complete, it will reach 564ft (172 metres).
The building has become one of the most iconic in the world and a huge hotspot for tourists.
Prior to the recent development, the record was held by Germany’s Ulm Minster, which stands at 530ft (161 metres).
The church was designed by famous architect, Antoni Gaudí, whose work can be seen throughout the city.
Building began in 1882, but Gaudí never expected it to be completed in his lifetime.
One of the reasons for such a slow construction is that Sagrada Familia relies purely on donations for funding.
Building work was also affected by the death of Gaudí in 1926, the Spanish Civil War, and the lack of certain materials during the 20th century which all contributed towards delays.
If work on the tower of Jesus Christ is finished in 2026 as planned, the completion of the building will coincide with the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death.
In 2023, the building attracted 4.7 million tourists visited the building placing it as one of the most visited sites in Spain.
