How many towers are planned for the completed Sagrada Família? 18.
Gaudí’s design calls for eighteen towers, or spires, arranged as a symbolic hierarchy. Twelve represent the Apostles, four represent the Evangelists, one is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and the tallest central tower represents Jesus Christ.
The towers are not simply decorative landmarks. Their heights and forms contribute to the basilica’s theological programme, while the central spire was designed to dominate the composition. Gaudí planned the tower of Jesus Christ to reach 172.5 metres, slightly below the height of Barcelona’s Montjuïc hill.
Readers sometimes confuse the total with the number of towers already completed at a particular stage of construction, or with the twelve Apostolic towers alone. The quiz asks for the planned total, not a progress report. Another common mix-up is calling the building a cathedral: it is a basilica, while Barcelona Cathedral is the seat of the archdiocese.