Barcelona: Barcelona's La Sagrada Familia Basilica, still unfinished after 137 years, now has something that usually takes builders substantially less time to acquire: a permit.

Barcelona City Hall finally has issued a work permit for the unfinished church designed by architect Antoni Gaudi.

Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia church is a Barcelona landmark unfinished after 137 years. Credit:AP

The city said Friday it granted the current builders a license that is valid through 2026. The builders think that will be enough time to finish raising the landmark Roman Catholic church's central towers.

The basilica's first stone was laid in 1882, but Barcelona officials said there was no record showing a building permit first requested in 1885 ever was granted or rejected.