The construction of the Sagrada Família basilica was slowed down by the coronavirus

Barcelona - The famous Basilica of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona will not be completed by the 100th anniversary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí in 2026 due to the coronavirus crisis. This was reported by the AFP agency.

"The consequences of the pandemic have forced us to reassess the schedule. It will affect the completion we had planned for 2026," said Esteve Camps, who is in charge of finishing one of Spain's most popular tourist attractions. Given the current situation, he could not even estimate a new date for when the temple will be complete.

Construction of the famous basilica, which began in 1882, was interrupted this March by the COVID-19 pandemic when the Spanish government declared a state of emergency due to the outbreak and restricted the free movement of people. Additionally, the completion will be influenced by a lack of funds, as it is financed through donations and ticket sales to tourists, whose numbers in Barcelona have dramatically decreased due to the coronavirus.

However, workers are expected to return to the construction site in the coming weeks, and Camps hopes that the so-called Mary Tower, the second highest tower of the cathedral at 123 meters, will be completed by the end of 2021.

The Sagrada Familia (Holy Family), which is a mix of Neo-Catalan style, Art Nouveau, and modernism, has become one of the symbols of Barcelona. This unique architectural work depicting the life of Jesus Christ and biblical history began construction based on the design of architect Francesc de Paula del Villar. At the end of 1883, work was taken over by Antoni Gaudí. Given the financial and architectural demands, even Gaudí had no illusions about the speed of construction.

Since 2005, the Sagrada Familia has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and in 2010 it was consecrated by then-Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Barcelona. Once completed, it will become the tallest cathedral in the world, with 18 towers, the largest of which is expected to measure over 172 meters.