The Sagrada Família Basilica in Barcelona continues to advance toward the completion of its construction. The cross that crowns the tower of Jesus Christ, the tallest in the temple designed by Antoni Gaudí, can now be seen with the naked eye after the progressive removal of the scaffolding that covered it began.
The 17-meter cross is now visible at the top of the temple
According to information from the Archdiocese of Barcelona, the temple’s Construction Board has begun the gradual dismantling of the scaffolding on the central tower. Thanks to this, as of this Tuesday, the cross that crowns the tower of Jesus Christ can already be contemplated without visual obstacles.
The structure measures 17 meters in height and 13.5 meters in width and rises in the highest part of the expiatory temple, becoming one of the most symbolic elements of the architectural ensemble.
The placement of the upper arm of the cross took place on February 20, the moment when the Sagrada Família officially completed the tower of Jesus Christ. With this structure finalized, the basilica has become the tallest church in the world.
A work of great technical complexity
The cross is formed by four arms and features an elaborate cladding made of glass and white enameled ceramic, materials specially designed and manufactured for this piece.
Its construction has required a complex technical process that combines different materials and artisanal techniques. The ceramic includes curved pieces and pyramidal elements, while the windows incorporate three layers of curved and laminated glass.
These glasses also feature textures and machined and polished pyramidal shapes, allowing the cross to reflect light and stand out visually at the top of the temple.
A new milestone in the construction of the Sagrada Família
The tower of Jesus Christ constitutes the central element of the project conceived by Antoni Gaudí and symbolizes the architectural culmination of the basilica.
With the removal of the scaffolding and the visible appearance of the cross, the Sagrada Família reaches a new milestone in the final stretch of a construction begun in 1882 and which has become one of the most emblematic temples in the world.