The Almudena Cathedral in Madrid took over 100 years to complete. King Phillip II proposed the idea of a cathedral in Madrid after he made it Spain’s capital in 1561. However, construction did not begin until 1883. In the 1940s, its Gothic style was criticized because it clashed with the neighboring neoclassical Royal Palace. More classical elements were added, and construction completed in 1993. Pope John Paul II consecrated it the same year. This vast structure is 341 feet long and nearly 250 feet wide. It features a dome measuring 65.5 feet across, a crypt and remarkable statues. Show All
