After more than a century of waiting, the work to complete the Sagrada Familia, the imposing cathedral of Barcelona, is finally reaching its conclusion. This extraordinary architectural work, designed among others by the architect Antoni Gaudì, goes from neo-Gothic to Art Nouveau style. The sixth and final central tower is expected to be completed in 2026, marking the conclusion of construction 144 years later. The latest news concerns a significant step forward towards the completion of the works: the missing sculpture has been placed on the tower dedicated to the Evangelist Matthew. Furthermore, the tower dedicated to John the Evangelist was completed with the addition of an eagle-shaped statue.
The towers of the Evangelists
Work began slowly and when Gaudi died in 1926, it was estimated that they were only 10-15% complete. Subsequently, the works suffered several interruptions during the 1930s due to the Spanish Civil War, and during the 20th century several changes were made to the original project. The official page of the Sagrada Familia has announced that an inaugural mass will be held in the cathedral on November 12, during which the four towers dedicated to the four Evangelists will be illuminated. The Sagrada Familia, recognized as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, was consecrated in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI, although it was not yet completed. The Catalan architect’s initial project envisaged a monumental structure composed of 18 towers, each symbolizing the 12 apostles, the four evangelists, the Virgin Mary and Jesus. The final tower, representing Jesus Christ, will reach an grandeur of 172 meters and will be crowned by a cross.
Source-tg24.sky.it