Sagrada Família Towers – A Complete Guide to All 18 Spires

The Sagrada Família has a total of 18 towers, and each one of them is dedicated to a specific figure from Christian tradition. Every tower measures between 98 and 172.5 meters and is iconic to the skyline of Barcelona. 

As of early 2026, 16 of the 18 towers have been, or are being, constructed. The final and tallest tower,  the Tower of Jesus Christ, is scheduled for inauguration on June 10, 2026.

This guide covers everything about Sagrada Família Towers, what each tower group represents, how tall they are, which ones visitors can climb, what to expect at the top, and what is currently happening with the completion of the central tower.

Why are there 18 towers in the Sagrada Família?

Antoni Gaudí designed the Sagrada Família with exactly 18 towers, each dedicated to an important figure in Christian tradition. This number was intentional. It represents a complete symbolic structure built into the church’s design.

The 18 towers are divided into four groups:

• 12 towers for the Apostles – the followers who spread Christianity
• 4 towers for the Evangelists – the authors of the Gospels
• 1 tower for the Virgin Mary – the mother of Jesus
• 1 central tower for Jesus Christ – the highest and most important tower

Together, these towers represent the spiritual hierarchy of the Church, rising upward toward heaven.

Gaudí imagined the towers as a “forest of faith,” with each spire pointing toward God. His goal was to express the entire story and structure of Catholic Christianity in a single building.

Construction began in 1882. A major milestone will come in 2026, when the central tower of Jesus Christ is completed. It will become the tallest church in Europe. This year is especially meaningful because it also marks 100 years since Gaudí’s death on June 10, 1926, making 2026 one of the most important years in the basilica’s history.

Group One: The Twelve Apostles’ Towers

The main group of towers, twelve in number, is dedicated to the apostles of Jesus, the original followers who helped spread Christianity. These towers are located at the foot of the vertical section of the Sagrada Família. 

The apostles are represented by an equal distribution of four towers for each of the Sagrada Família’s three major façades: four on the Nativity Facade (the east side), four on the Passion Facade (the west side), and four on the Glory Facade (the south side), where construction continues today. 

The towers of the apostles represent the earthbound work of the Church and its believers, and they form the lowest layer in the hierarchy of towers that Gaudí designed, rising above only the towers dedicated to the Evangelists, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus Christ himself.

The Nativity Facade Towers (East)

The towers of the Nativity Facade dedicated to the apostles are Barnabas, Simon, Jude, and Matthew. These are the most decorated towers on the whole basilica, as Gaudí designed this façade personally. The design is much softer, more organic, and includes plants, animals, and Christian symbols, including the Tree of Life. They vary in height from 98 to 107 meters. This is also the set of towers people climb when they book Nativity tower access. The detail in the stonework is breathtaking in person and not seen from the ground. This makes it one of the most awe-inspiring and unforgettable experiences when visiting the Sagrada Família, loved by people today and photographers every year in Barcelona city center.

Passion Facade Towers (West) 

The Passion Facade towers are dedicated to apostles James the Less, Bartholomew, Thomas, and Philip. Unlike the Nativity towers, they are plain, spire-like, and minimalist. Their severe geometry symbolizes the Passion and death of Jesus, the theme of this façade. They reach a height of 112 meters, the highest of all. Those who take the Passion tower access climb these towers. The view from the top looks over the straight streets of Eixample toward the sea, a sharp contrast to the more gentle perspective of Nativity, which looks over all of Barcelona and is preferred by photographers for its dramatic architectural lines and emotional atmosphere now and every year worldwide.

Glory Facade Towers (South – Under Construction) 

The towers for the Glory Facade will honor apostles Andrew, Peter, Paul, and James the Great. This facade is under construction because it will be the main entrance to the basilica. The columns for this tower have yet to be finished by the work crew. This will complete the set of twelve towers for each of the apostles. The Glory Facade Towers will be built to a height similar to the other towers, marking the completion of work on this project. Completion of the work is anticipated to occur sometime between 2032 and 2033. These towers will welcome visitors as the grand southern entrance to the basilica, as Gaudí’s vision for Barcelona will be complete.

Group Two – The Four Evangelists’ Towers

The four Evangelists’ Towers stand above the apostles’ towers and around the basilica’s central crossing.

Each of them is named after one of the four writers of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The symbol of the Evangelist to which the tower is dedicated adorns the top of each tower: a winged angel (Matthew), a lion (Mark), an ox (Luke), and an eagle (John).

Each of the towers is 135 meters tall and encircles the Tower of Jesus Christ, illustrating the Evangelists’ supporting role in proclaiming his message. The four Evangelists’ Towers were all completed in 2023, when they held their first lighting ceremony, a major construction event.

You can find their symbols in the basilica as well, in the colored glass ovals in the nave ceiling, which are visible just under the towers.

Group Three: The Virgin Mary Tower

The Tower of the Virgin Mary is 138 meters tall. It is the second-tallest completed tower of the Sagrada Família. It is located to the east of the apse, so it is slightly taller than the towers dedicated to the Evangelists.

The tower was inaugurated on December 8, 2021. This was when the tower received its topping feature, a large, glowing star. The star is 7.5 meters in diameter. It features 12 points. At night, it shines very brightly, illuminating the surrounding area.

It is the star that makes the tower recognizable in the skyline. The star’s light and beauty have made it a popular topic for photographs of the tower and the basilica as a whole.

The date of the inauguration is not without significance. December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The feast celebrates events in the life of the Virgin Mary.

Group Four: The Tower of Jesus Christ

The Tower of Jesus Christ is the most central and tallest tower of the Sagrada Família. It is positioned above the towers for the apostles, Evangelists, and the Virgin Mary as the most vital component in the complex structure by Gaudí. At the intersection point of the basilica’s important paths, the Tower of Jesus Christ crowns the Sagrada Família and brings Gaudí’s vision of the 18 towers to completion. Its central position, its height, and the way it is designed make it more important than the rest and the climax of the building.

Height and Symbolism

The Tower of Jesus Christ will eventually be a total of 172.5 meters high, making it the tallest church tower in existence. The cross on top will be 17 meters high and 13.5 meters wide, weighing around 200 tons. The outside of the tower is adorned with white ceramic and glass mosaics that reflect light to make it visible from anywhere in Barcelona. Gaudí made sure of the height, so it remains lower than the nearby Montjuïc hill to remain in line with his philosophy of building never exceeding nature. The tower’s specific height also comes from math calculations. Its position and height made it possible to have a tower dedicated to Christ as King, capping the Sagrada Família, and considered a structural and symbolic wonder by anyone who sees it.

The 2026 Completion Milestone

The Tower of Jesus Christ will be finished on June 10, 2026, which is the one hundredth anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death. As of January 2026, work only stopped at installing the horizontal elements of the cross, which brought its height to about 162.9 meters, making it taller than every standing church to date. It will only become the tallest once it finally reaches its completed height of 172.5 meters after work finishes on the vertical part of the cross and similar elements. This work will finish the Sagrada Família after just over 140 years, making its accomplishment a notable world event in art and theology.

Inside the Tower

Inside the Tower of Jesus Christ, a glass elevator will take visitors inside the tower to the top. A staircase also winds around the inside of the tower and provides a means of access for construction and maintenance work. At the top, an observation area inside the cross structure will offer people the highest point for observation in Barcelona. The observation area will have a limited number of people to avoid crowding, limited to about 11 people at once in this area. At the top, people will encounter a Latin phrase that reads: “Tu solus Sanctus, Tu solus Dominus, Tu solus Altissimus,” meaning: “You alone are the Holy One, the Lord, the Most High.”

Visiting the Towers: What to Expect

There are two different towers visitors can use at the Sagrada Família, one on the Nativity Facade (east) and one on the Passion Facade (west). You need to add tower access when you are buying your ticket; it is not an automatic addition. Each tower ticket lets you visit one tower only; you cannot go between the towers or visit other facades without a separate ticket.

How to Access a Tower

The process of accessing a tower is the same for each of the towers. You take a very small elevator with about 6 people in it up part of the way in the tower. You then walk the rest of the way up some narrow stone paths, small platforms, and short connections between parts of the same tower. The paths are enclosed with stone and barriers and are open-air, but they are high up.

The descent is entirely on foot down a tight spiral staircase with over 300 steps. This means that the towers are not wheelchair accessible, and users must be able to walk down on their own.

Restrictions and practical considerations:

• Children under 6 years old are not allowed
• Children 6 to 16 must be accompanied by an adult
• Not suitable for visitors with severe vertigo, mobility limitations, or claustrophobia
• The full tower visit takes about 30 to 45 minutes

What You Will See from the Nativity Tower

The Nativity tower faces east and north, toward the older parts of Barcelona and the surrounding hills. Its main highlight is the close-up view of Gaudí’s original facade, which includes highly detailed carvings of animals, plants, angels, and biblical scenes. These details are impossible to fully appreciate from ground level.

From the openings and viewing points, you can see:

• The Eixample district grid directly below
• Torre Glòries in the northeast
• The Collserola hills in the distance
• On very clear days, the Pyrenees mountains

This tower is the best choice if your priority is architecture and Gaudí’s original craftsmanship.

What You Will See from the Passion Tower

The Passion tower faces west and south, offering clearer panoramic views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. You can see:

• The Eixample grid extending toward the coast
• The Mediterranean Sea in the distance
• Montjuïc hill to the southwest
• A wider skyline view of modern Barcelona

The Passion side has less decorative detail, because this facade was designed to reflect the suffering and death of Christ. However, it provides more open and expansive views, especially toward the sea.

Nativity vs. Passion – Which Tower Should You Choose?

This is the most common question, and it all depends on what you want most from your visit.

The Nativity towers are more important historically. These are the towers Gaudí built himself, and the closer decoration you see is his original work. The views are to the east and north, so they aren’t bathed in the afternoon sun, which is also better for photography. If you want to see the architecture and symbols more, go for Nativity.

The Passion towers are taller (up to 90 m) and have clearer views of the city grid and the sea. The angular design of the Passion facade looks different from below – it looks harsher, but the views from the top are sublime. If you’re more interested in the city views, go for Passion.

The best answer is to book both towers if you have the time and money.

A Historic Year – Visiting the Sagrada Família in 2026

The year 2026 is one of the most historic years in the history of the Sagrada Família. It is the year that marks the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death (June 10, 1926) and the completion and dedication of the central Tower of Jesus Christ.

This tower will bring the Sagrada Família to its designed height of 172.5 meters. This will bring the Sagrada Família to the tallest church in the world, and this will complete the great vertical dream of Gaudí.

Barcelona has some special events and exhibitions planned for the historic centenary. An exhibition entitled “The Sagrada Família and Barcelona: 144 Years of a Shared Journey” will be held from April 27 to July 26, 2026, at Palau Robert. A solemn commemorative Mass is planned for June 10, 2026, at the basilica. The official dedication of the tower of Jesus Christ will most likely be scheduled for this same time.

This will be one of the very few occasions that future tourists to Barcelona will have a chance to view this building exactly as Gaudí designed it during its most important period, a once-in-a-century building period in its history.

Practical Tips for Visiting the Sagrada Familia Towers

1. Tower access is one of the most restricted and popular visit experiences at the Sagrada Família. Much can be done to facilitate your visit in advance.
2. Book tower tickets in advance. Tower access is restricted to small groups and often sells out days or weeks ahead, especially between March and October, which is the peak tourist season for Barcelona. Tickets should always be booked through the official Sagrada Família website – sellers on third-party sites often charge much higher prices.
3. You must decide between the Nativity and the Passion tower when booking. Each ticket purchase is for one-time access to only one tower. You cannot visit multiple towers. The Nativity tower is recommended if your interest is in viewing Gaudí’s original facade and the detail of the sculptural work. The Passion Tower is recommended if your interest is in more elevated viewpoints and panoramic views of the city and the sea.
4. Be on time for your assigned tower time. Entrance to the towers is on a strict timed schedule.
5. Travel light. The descent from the tower involves a long, narrow spiral staircase with more than 300 steps. Large backpacks or bags will make the visit difficult.
6. Wear stable, closed footwear. The stairways are steep and have been worn down by heavy traffic over time. Properly fitted shoes will make descent safer and more comfortable.
7. Check the weather before booking tower access. The most satisfying visits are on clear days; rain, fog, and overcast skies can block views and diminish the experience.
8. Bring a camera or a good smartphone camera. The towers offer unique elevated viewpoints both of the sculptural work on the towers as well as of the Barcelona skyline, including views of the Eixample grid, coastline, and distant hills.
9. Budget at least 30 to 45 minutes for the tower visit, separate from your interior visit time. The interior nave, museum, and crypt can each take time to explore; a total of 1.5 to 2.5 hours can be needed for a complete visit to all areas of interest inside the basilica.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sagrada Família Towers (FAQs)