The Glory Facade will be the most striking face of the Sagrada Familia once it is completed. It will represent humanity’s final destiny: death, the Last Judgment, hell, and eternal glory. This will be the basilica’s main facade, the largest and most monumental of the three, and the last major construction work still pending at Gaudí’s temple.
In this guide, we’ll share all the details about what will become the main facade of the Sagrada Familia: what the final design will look like, its symbolism, curiosities, and estimates of when the basilica will be completed.
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Table of Contents
- The Facades of the Sagrada Familia
- Gaudí’s Project
- Architecture of the Glory Facade
- The Artists of the Glory Facade
- Current Status
- Symbolism
- Project Curiosities
- Plan Your Visit
- When Will It Be Finished?
- The Staircase Controversy
- Where to See the Glory Facade
The Facades of the Sagrada Familia: A Triptych in Architecture
All three facades of the Sagrada Familia together form a unique narrative triptych. The Nativity Facade, which Gaudí himself began, celebrates the beginning of life; the Passion Facade narrates suffering and redemption; and the Glory Facade will represent the final destiny of human existence.
Together, they tell a complete story: we are born, we suffer, we die… and then comes judgment, purification, and eternal glory. Gaudí conceived this message as universal, applicable to believers and non-believers alike, because it speaks to questions we all ask ourselves: where do we come from?, why do we suffer?, what comes after?
When the Glory Facade is completed, the basilica will have completed its message and we will be able to behold in its entirety the vision Gaudí dreamed of more than a century ago. But there is no need to wait — it is currently possible to explore the Sagrada Familia from the inside, with its two completed facades and spectacular interior, through a guided tour or audio guide that will help you understand every symbol and detail of this masterpiece.
Gaudí’s Project: A Catechism in Stone
Gaudí conceived the Glory Facade as the temple’s great catechetical portico, a book in stone that the faithful should “read” before entering. Facing south, with access from Carrer de Mallorca, this facade will be the gateway through which millions of visitors will enter the basilica each year.
Hell, Purgatory and Glory: three levels
The facade is organised into three levels, from bottom to top, representing the path of the human being:
Hell (lower level): Located below the level of the temple, next to Carrer de Mallorca. It represents sin and the consequences of turning away from God.
Purgatory (middle level): Above the representation of the trades and just below heaven. It is the path of purification of souls.
Glory (upper level): The culmination of the spiritual journey, at the very top of the facade.
At the base there will be seven bronze doors by Josep Maria Subirachs, dedicated to the seven sacraments (from left to right: baptism, anointing of the sick, holy orders, the Eucharist, confirmation, marriage and penance). The columns next to the doors represent the works of mercy, and the seven outer columns the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the deadly sins and the virtues.
The Iconographic Program
The symbolism of the Glory Facade is the most complex of the three facades. Gaudí planned to include:
- The Beatitudes (on the eight base columns)
- The Creed (written on clouds in the lower part of the towers and on the lanterns)
- The Seven Sacraments (on the seven doors)
- The Works of Mercy
- The gifts of the Holy Spirit, the deadly sins and the virtues
- The seven days of Creation and the nine choirs of angels (on the 16 lanterns)
This iconographic program would make the facade a visual synthesis of all of Christian theology, far more ambitious than the other two facades.
Architecture: 16 Lanterns and a Forest of Clouds
Architecturally, the Glory Facade will be the most daring. Gaudí designed a set of 16 hyperboloid lanterns topped with cones, which cover the narthex on two planes (seven in front and nine behind) and rise towards the centre to about 80 metres. The seven at the front represent the days of Creation, and the nine behind, the choirs of angels.
On the lower part of the towers and on the surfaces of the lanterns, Gaudí envisioned the text of the Creed, the prayer that sums up the Christian faith, written on cloud shapes so that it can be read clearly from the street.
The four bell towers of this facade, dedicated to the apostles Andrew, Peter, Paul and James the Greater, will complete the twelve bell towers of the apostles, which measure between 98.5 and 120 metres. A structural curiosity: only the inner half of each tower reaches the foundations; the half facing the street starts at a height of about 30 metres, resting on the eight columns of the facade.
These four towers are part of the overall project of the 18 towers of the Sagrada Familia, which include the 12 dedicated to the apostles, 4 to the evangelists, one to the Virgin Mary, and the central tower of Jesus Christ.
The Artists of the Glory Facade
Unlike the other facades, where sculptors have already left their mark, the Glory Facade is still searching for its artists. In 2025, the Board of Works commissioned proposals from three internationally renowned creators:
Miquel Barceló: The Majorcan artist, known for his work with ceramics and for large-scale interventions in religious spaces, such as the chapel in Palma Cathedral.
Cristina Iglesias: A sculptor of international renown, known for her installations that engage in dialogue with architecture and space.
Javier Marín: A Mexican sculptor specialising in large-format human figures.
All three presented their proposals at the end of June 2026. In October, the Board of Works told them it needs more time to decide. On the table is whether to commission the whole facade from a single artist or to share it among several sculptors.
Current Status of the Glory Facade
In 2025, vertical work on the Glory Facade began, the temple’s last major structural phase. The first objective was the eight columns that will support the facade and part of the four bell towers dedicated to the apostles Peter, Paul, Andrew and James the Greater. The plan is to start raising the towers in 2027.
These columns, which rise from the level of Carrer de Mallorca, are dedicated to the Beatitudes and will serve as the foundation for the immense portico that Gaudí envisioned as the temple’s main entrance.
Symbolism of the Glory Facade
As with all facades of the Sagrada Familia, every detail carries multiple layers of meaning.
The Southern Orientation
It is no coincidence that this facade faces south, toward the Mediterranean Sea. Gaudí chose this orientation to represent openness to the world and the universality of the Christian message. While the Nativity Facade faces east (the rising sun, the beginning) and the Passion faces west (the setting sun, death), the Glory faces south: fullness, midday, the moment of greatest light.
The Beatitudes
The eight columns supporting the facade are dedicated to the Beatitudes, Jesus’s teachings on true happiness: blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger for justice, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, and those persecuted for the sake of justice.
These columns, in addition to structurally supporting the facade, also bear its theological message symbolically.
The Creed in the Clouds
The clouds Gaudí designed on the lower part of the towers and on the lanterns will contain the words of the Creed, the Christian profession of faith. This architectural choice is deeply symbolic: the Creed “floats” above the heads of the faithful like a heavenly truth.
Project Curiosities
Although the facade is still under construction, Gaudí’s project holds some fascinating details:
- Gaudí’s alphabet: As with the other facades, the inscriptions on the Glory will use the special alphabet Gaudí created — a blend of Gothic and Modernist letterforms that he considered more legible and beautiful than conventional typefaces.
- The Lord’s Prayer in 50 languages: The central bronze door, by Josep Maria Subirachs and dedicated to the Eucharist, bears the complete Lord’s Prayer in Catalan and the phrase «give us this day our daily bread» in 50 languages. Its handles are shaped like the letters A and G, in homage to Antoni Gaudí.
- The central tower as axis: The Glory Facade will align perfectly with the Tower of Jesus Christ (172.5 meters), creating a vertical visual axis connecting the temple’s main entrance with its highest point, reinforcing the idea of spiritual ascension.
- Hundreds of sculptures: When finished, the Glory Facade will have hundreds of sculptures spread across its three levels, making it the most sculpturally dense of the three facades.
Plan Your Visit
To make the most of your visit to the Sagrada Familia and see all three facades, we recommend getting your tickets in advance. Options include:
- Basic entry ticket: Access to the basilica and views of the facades from inside.
- Entry + towers: Climb one of the towers for panoramic views of Barcelona.
- Entry with guided tour: Detailed explanations from a guide covering every element of the temple, including the Glory Facade project.
- Guided tour + towers: An expert guide explains the symbolism, history, and future of all three facades, with a tower climb included.
Booking ahead not only guarantees your entry, it also lets you choose the best time slot for your visit and avoid the crowds.
When Will the Glory Facade Be Finished?
According to the current schedule of the Board of Works, led by Esteve Camps and architect Jordi Faulí, it is estimated to take approximately ten years to complete, placing its completion around 2036, an optimistic estimate that we explain in detail in when will the Sagrada Familia be finished.
However, this timeframe refers only to the architectural structure within the temple’s perimeter. The sculptures, the exterior overhangs, the bridge over Carrer de Mallorca, and a monumental staircase all depend on urban planning agreements yet to be finalized, and could extend the timeline by several more years — a situation that has sparked considerable controversy in Barcelona.
The Staircase Controversy: Urban Planning vs. Heritage
Gaudí’s original design includes a grand staircase that would rise above a bridge built over Carrer de Mallorca, beneath which traffic would flow. This bridge topped with the staircase was, for Gaudí, “non-negotiable” (in the words of the current Board of Works), because it forms an integral part of the temple’s architectural project.
The Current Conflict
The problem is that today’s Barcelona is not the city Gaudí imagined in 1916. Where he projected a large open esplanade, residential apartment blocks have stood for decades. Building the staircase as Gaudí designed it would require the expropriation and demolition of several buildings on Carrer de Mallorca, affecting hundreds of residents.
The conflict has been ongoing since 1976, when the General Metropolitan Plan reserved a 71.5-meter strip in front of the future facade to create a grand promenade connecting the temple to Avinguda Diagonal. However, the construction of housing in that strip generated a conflict that successive municipal governments have tried to resolve without success for decades.
Is There a Solution?
The Board of Works has made clear that it “will never give up on the staircase” because it is part of Gaudí’s project, but has also shown openness to dialogue to “adjust its dimensions”.
In July 2026, the Basilica, the City Council and the residents reached an agreement in principle. The proposal affects 194 homes and provides for compensating the residents or rehousing them in a new building on a plot owned by the Basilica, in the block formed by Carrer de Marina, Lepant, Mallorca and València. In October 2026, the Basilica was still waiting for the City Council to make its move, and the change to the urban plan will no longer be possible before the municipal elections of May 2027.
For now, construction of the facade is progressing within the temple’s own plot, for which all necessary permits have been obtained. The staircase and bridge are deferred until a definitive agreement is reached.
To put this in perspective: when the Sagrada Familia is finally completed, more than 150 years will have passed since construction began in 1882.
Where to See the Glory Facade
The Glory Facade is located on the south side of the temple, with access from Carrer de Mallorca. You can get your bearings by consulting the Sagrada Familia floor plans.
Currently, what you can see is the space where the facade is being built: the first columns rising, the construction scaffolding, and if you look closely, Subirachs’s bronze doors bearing the Lord’s Prayer in multiple languages.
Unlike the other two facades, there are as yet no sculptures to photograph or details to discover up close. What you see is a construction site that gives you a sense of the magnitude of what is to come.
Are you ready to follow its construction and witness its completion?