The star, which measures 24.6 feet and weighs 5.5 tons, was installed in the tower of the Virgin on Monday, according to a statement from the foundation that runs the cathedral.
The foundation described the glass-and-stainless steel structure as “a great bright star that changed Barcelona’s horizon and rose to bring light and hope.”
The star will be unveiled with a Mass and blessing on December 8, when it will be illuminated for the first time with a spotlight at the base of each point.
The Sagrada Familia is one of the most complex and longest construction projects ever undertaken, still unfinished 139 years after the idea of a church on the site was first discussed.
Surprisingly, in 2016 he realized that the construction was illegal.
Catalan modernist Gaudí applied for a permit in 1885 to the town hall of Sant Martí de Provinciales, now one of the districts of Barcelona, but the authorities discovered that he never received a reply.
The star will be illuminated by spotlights at night. Credit: Matthias Austral/Shutterstock
In June 2019, the church, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, finally received a building permit.
Work on the Sagrada Familia may have continued for an unusually long time, but the building remains unfinished to this day.
Gaudí, whose whimsical works can be found all over the Spanish coastal city, devoted his life to building the cathedral until he was killed by a tram in 1926.
Since then, a series of architects have worked to finish it according to Gaudí’s original design.
The work was supposed to be completed in 2026 to mark the 100th anniversary of the architect’s death, but has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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