The Sagrada Familia has become the tallest church in the world after workers erected the first part of the cross on top of its central tower.
The 162.91-metre-high Spanish basilica officially broke the record of Ulm Cathedral in Germany, which had held the “crown” since 1890.
Designed by renowned architect Antoni Gaudi, the temple has been in the centre of Barcelona for over a century and its main building is due to be completed next year.
The central tower of Jesus Christ will grow with the rest of the cross over the next few months and should eventually reach 172 metres.
The first stone of the Sagrada Familia was laid in 1882, and as early as 1882, the Narchists set fire to the crypt, destroying the plans and plaster models Gaudi had created for further construction.
More recently, the Covid-19 pandemic brought the temple’s construction to a halt, with foundation members attributing the pause to a lack of tourism and further cuts in funding for the project.
In September this year, La Sagrada Família CEO Javier Martínez told the Associated Press that the Jesus Christ Tower would be completed in 2026, the centenary of Gaudi’s death.
The foundation will hold a series of events to honour the architect, who is buried in the crypt of the church.
Work on decorative details, sculptures and staircases leading to the main entrance of the building is expected to continue over the next decade.