Cathedral of Justo Church
Unfinished private cathedral near Madrid constructed by Justo Gallego from recycled materials. Visitors view the unconventional architecture and small on-site exhibits.
Cathedral of Justo at a Glance#
Address: Avenida de la Ilustración, Alcobendas/near Madrid (verify local address before visiting)
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-1pm, 5pm-8pm; Sun service times vary
About Cathedral of Justo#
The Cathedral of Justo is an unconventional, unfinished brick church complex in Mejorada del Campo in the Community of Madrid, Spain. Construction began in 1961 and the building is notable for being the long-term, voluntary project of a single builder.
The site is striking for its large-scale brick domes and towers and an irregular, hand-built exterior that can be photographed from nearby roads and viewpoints. Interiors are incomplete but contain chapels, religious imagery and areas where construction techniques and recycled materials are clearly visible.
Construction was started in 1961 by Justo Gallego Martínez and continued as his life project for many decades; the work relied on donations and reclaimed building materials. The structure was never formally completed or consecrated and is widely described as an eccentric, vernacular cathedral.
The site sits in the town of Mejorada del Campo, east of central Madrid. It is visible from parts of the surrounding plain and is commonly visited on day trips from the Madrid area.
- Single-builder construction: built almost single-handedly over decades using donated and recycled materials, making it an unusual example of vernacular, self-funded architecture.
- Unfinished status: unofficial and unfinished - it was never formally consecrated as a cathedral and remains the personal project of its founder.
How to Get to Cathedral of Justo#
Reachable by car from central Madrid via the M-30 and M-40 ring roads and local arterial routes; suburban buses and occasional regional rail links serve nearby towns-check local transit timetables for the best route.
Tips for Visiting Cathedral of Justo#
- Call ahead for visiting hours of the interior-some chapels have limited tourist access due to worship schedules.
- Admire the cathedral's modernist mosaics and the combination of traditional basilica form with contemporary interventions.
- Nearby parking can be limited; use public transit from Madrid if possible.
Best Time to Visit Cathedral of Justo#
Interior visits are possible year-round; spring-autumn offers pleasant local conditions for combining cathedral visits with surrounding attractions.
Weather & Climate near Cathedral of Justo#
Cathedral of Justo's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 0°C to 33°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | 1° - 10° | 4° | 38 mm | partly cloudy | 84% | 2.0 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.5h |
| February | Good | 2° - 13° | 6° | 39 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 2.4 m/s | 0.5 low | 10.5h |
| March | Very Good | 4° - 16° | 9° | 26 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 2.6 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Very Good | 6° - 18° | 12° | 39 mm | partly cloudy | 69% | 2.7 m/s | 1.3 high | 13.1h |
| May | Very Good | 9° - 22° | 16° | 41 mm | partly cloudy | 59% | 2.6 m/s | 1.7 very high | 14.3h |
| June | Excellent | 14° - 28° | 21° | 26 mm | some cloud | 46% | 2.5 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 14.8h |
| July | Ideal | 17° - 33° | 25° | 10 mm | mostly sunny | 35% | 2.4 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 14.6h |
| August | Ideal | 16° - 32° | 24° | 9 mm | mostly sunny | 36% | 2.3 m/s | 1.9 very high | 13.6h |
| September | Excellent | 13° - 28° | 20° | 27 mm | some cloud | 48% | 2.0 m/s | 1.3 high | 12.3h |
| October | Very Good | 9° - 21° | 15° | 47 mm | partly cloudy | 66% | 2.1 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.0h |
| November | Good | 4° - 15° | 9° | 57 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 1.9 m/s | 0.4 low | 9.8h |
| December | Good | 2° - 11° | 5° | 49 mm | partly cloudy | 83% | 2.0 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
