Showing posts with label justo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label justo. Show all posts

Justo Gallego’s Self Built Cathedral

About 20 km from Madrid is the small town of Mejorada del Campo. There on a farmland inherited from his family, Justo Gallego Martínez, better known as Don Justo, is building an amazing cathedral covering more than 8,000 square meters. It has a huge dome inspired by St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City, that is 40 meters high and 12 meters across. Everything from the walls, columns, staircases and floor are made out of either recycled materials or seconds donated by local building contractors. If you look carefully, you will notice the columns are old petrol drums.

The project began more than fifty years ago in 1961. Its initiator, Don Justo, is now ninety-one years old. Don Justo wanted to become a Roman Catholic monk, but his dream was shattered when he contracted tuberculosis and had to leave the monastery. He then decided that he would serve god in which own way, by building a cathedral.

don-justo-cathedral-3

Photo credit: Jose.Madrid/Flickr