For 55 years now, he alone has been building a huge cathedral in Spain

In Spain, in the vicinity of Madrid, is the small town of Mejora del Campo. It is here that for over 50 years alone has been working alone on the construction of the huge Cathedral of Justo Gallego Martinez.

This story began 55 years ago when a Spaniard, while still young, fell ill with tuberculosis. At the height of the aggravation of the disease, he vowed Our Lady to build the most beautiful cathedral in her honor, if she would help him recover and survive.

And now don Justo is already 90 years old, and its construction is still in full swing.

I can’t believe that such a colossal structure can be erected alone. Nevertheless, on the land bequeathed to him by his mother, Justo Gallego Martinez set to work.

The object he created occupies over 4700 square meters, and the height of two towers of the cathedral reaches 60 meters. At first, the locals considered him a madman, because the man had neither a suitable education, nor construction skills, even drawings he did not have.

The house in which he lived had to be rented out, and he himself moved to a construction site.

Every day, Don Just wakes up at 3.30 in the morning and works on the construction until sunset before he starts: he knocks with a hammer, makes masonry, pours concrete or knits reinforcement. Local construction companies and individuals provide him with recycled materials, but often a man has to use ordinary materials at hand. So, for example, he used empty barrels of gasoline as forms for the construction of load-bearing columns, and cocoa cans were fine for fine decorative barrels.

The elderly Spaniard does not have a clear construction plan, everything is in his head and depending on inspiration and available opportunities, it changes from time to time.

He did not receive building permits, just like the blessings from the Catholic Church. Over time, the media spread the news of his amazing cathedral, and tourists began to come to the town. He doesn’t take any entrance fees from them, rejoicing only at voluntary donations.

In 2009, a documentary film was dedicated to Justo Gallego Martinez, in which he talks about how a person is capable of the greatest feats, if he has a clear goal and a strong desire to achieve it.

Sometimes nephews, friends, or simply local craftsmen, inspired by his unwavering tenacity, come to the aid of old Don Justo. Despite his advanced age, he cheerfully climbs forests and drags building materials onto the roof.