The History of the Sagrada Familia
The full history of the Sagrada Familia: its 1882 foundation, Gaudi's takeover, the civil war fire, the slow decades and the modern completion schedule.
Quick answer
Construction began on 19 March 1882 under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. Antoni Gaudí took over a year later and redesigned it completely, working on it until his death in 1926. Anarchist arson in 1936 destroyed many drawings and models, delaying work for decades. The basilica was consecrated in 2010 and the central Tower of Jesus Christ is the final major element.
Key facts
- Foundation stone laid on Saint Joseph's day, 19 March 1882.
- Gaudí devoted the last 43 years of his life to the project and the final 12 exclusively.
- Only the crypt, the apse and part of the Nativity facade were finished when he died.
- The 1936 fire destroyed workshop plaster models and drawings, later painstakingly reconstructed.
- Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the basilica in November 2010; it remains a working church.
A bookseller's idea, an architect's obsession
The basilica began as a devotional project funded entirely by donations, promoted by the bookseller Josep Maria Bocabella and the Spiritual Association of Devotees of Saint Joseph. The first architect, Francisco de Paula del Villar, planned a conventional neo-Gothic church. He resigned within a year after disagreements over materials and cost.
The commission passed to a 31-year-old Antoni Gaudí, who kept the crypt already under way but rethought everything above it. Over four decades he replaced flying buttresses with branching columns, straight lines with ruled surfaces, and drawings with three-dimensional plaster models and hanging chain catenary studies.
Interruption, fire and slow recovery
Gaudí was struck by a tram in June 1926 and died three days later. Work continued under his collaborator Domènec Sugrañes, but funding was thin and the Spanish Civil War stopped everything. In July 1936 the crypt workshop was burned and models were smashed, an act that erased much of the direct documentation of Gaudí's intentions.
Restoration of the surviving fragments took years, and construction only resumed seriously in the 1950s. Photographs, salvaged plaster and Gaudí's geometric logic became the basis for every later decision — which is why the completion work is best understood as reconstruction of a system rather than invention of a style.
Modern construction and the finish line
Computer-aided design and stone-cutting from the 1990s onward transformed the pace of work, allowing the ruled surfaces Gaudí described to be machined accurately. Ticket revenue from visitors now funds construction, so every entry ticket contributes directly to the building.
The towers of the Evangelists and the Virgin Mary were completed in recent years; the central Tower of Jesus Christ, which will make the basilica the tallest church in the world, is the last great element, followed by the Glory facade and its access stairway.
Visitor tips
- Visit the crypt-level museum first if you like chronology — it makes the nave read as a conclusion rather than a spectacle.
- Look for the surviving Gaudí-era stonework low on the Nativity facade; it is softer and more organic than later carving.
- The hanging chain model in the museum explains more about the structure than any label in the nave.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the whole building is modern — the Nativity facade and crypt are largely Gaudí's own work.
- Skipping the museum, which holds the reconstructed models that explain the design method.
- Treating published completion dates as fixed; the schedule has moved many times in 140 years.
Local advice
Gaudí is buried in the crypt of the basilica he never saw finished. The chapel is visible from the museum level, and it is the quietest, most reflective corner of the whole site.
Frequently asked questions
When did construction of the Sagrada Familia start?
On 19 March 1882, under the first architect Francisco de Paula del Villar.
Why is the Sagrada Familia taking so long?
It is funded entirely by donations and ticket sales, was interrupted by war and fire, and uses extremely complex geometry.
Is Gaudí buried in the Sagrada Familia?
Yes, in the crypt beneath the basilica.
When will the Sagrada Familia be finished?
The central Tower of Jesus Christ and the Glory facade are the final major elements; completion dates have shifted repeatedly, so treat any date as provisional.
Summary
The Sagrada Familia has been under construction since 1882, shaped by Gaudí for 43 years, damaged by fire in 1936, consecrated in 2010, and is now nearing completion with its central tower.
Sources and updates
Information on this page is checked against operator publications and our own site visits. See how we verify information and our full sources. Last updated .