Barcelona’s Sagrada Família has officially become the tallest church in the world as of October 28, after workers placed the first part of a cross atop its central tower, the Tower of Jesus Christ.
Now reaching 162.91 meters (534.6 feet), the basilica surpasses Germany’s Ulm Minster, which had held the record since 1890. Designed by Antoni Gaudí, Sagrada Família has been under construction since 1882 and is expected to be completed in 2026, which would be the centenary of Gaudí’s death.
But will that truly be the end? And why has it taken so long to build this impressive monument anyway? Click through the following gallery to take a trip through this church’s history and hallways.