EcoAlert: Spain's Stunning Cathedral of Trash

Justo Gallego Martínez (also known as Don Justo) has built this beautiful cathedral of trash in Madrid over the past 50-odd years. Don Justo, a former monk, has been building the cathedral (modelled on St. Peter's in Italy) in the Spanish village of Mejorada del Campo (near Madrid) since 1961.The cathederal is 131-feet high, and needs to add a roof and a few windows to complete the edifice. Most of his building matter came from salvaged materials and recycled junk -the columns for example have been built with old oil drums. He uses both everyday objects and excess construction materials donated by construction companies and a nearby brick factory.

Don Justo was a farmer and bullfighter. As a young man, he joined a Trappist monastery but had to leave in 1961, after eight years, when he contracted tuberculosis and his health deteriorated. He began building the cathedral on a plot of land he had inherited from his parents in honor of the Lady of the Pillar, to whom he had prayed.

The Daily Galaxy via gizmodo.com

Comments

[ConfessionsOfAManwhore dot com]

>"As a young man, he joined a Trappist monastery but had to leave in 1961,"

>"has been building the cathedral (modelled on St. Peter's in Italy) in the Spanish village of Mejorada del Campo (near Madrid) since 1961."

What in the world... he was too sick to be a monk but he was well enough to build a cathedral? Does that make any sense? Seems the fact checker might be off on this one.

But wonderful idea (building it out of the resources he did) .. if that part of the story is even true.

http://www.confessionsofamanwhore.com

[MAN]

Wow that's pretty amazing, hope all goes well for this man.

[Andrew T]

Well, we atheists have always said that religion is garbage....

[Tosca Zraikat]

How resourceful this man is, and what deep devotion must drive him to this work. Let the sceptics make of Don Justo's motives what they will, but it warms my heart to know that there are those among us with the courage and persistence to bring their unique, idiosyncratic visions to fruition. Bravo, Don Justo.

[Vnizzle]

I'm an atheist and regardless of his convictions I think it's pretty remarkable what he's done. I am curious about him getting sick and leaving, and then building a cathedral...

[starsailor]

you must not be a christian, to have respect for the great enthusiasm of this man...

[best mp3 player]

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