The Marmorkirken church in Copenhagens district Fredriksstaden is the perfect example of megalomania in building.
King Frederik V. had the idea to build a church like the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, or the Saints Paul Cathedral in London. When the contruction works started in 1749, the plan of Marmorkirken was imposing. The whole church should be made of marble instead of sandstone. 21 years later Denmarks state coffers was empty. It was not financeable to build a church of marble.
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The construction works were stopped, and the building site consisted of several column parts, and marble blocks with a height of 9 metres.
77 years later in 1847, a rich citizen from Copenhagen promised to finish the church, and bought the whole building site. But not according to the plans of King Frederik V. He had his own plans. The church should become much smaller and cheaper. At least the project was finished finally.
Marmorkirken was also finished with sandstone. Not marble. The exceptional building can be found in Fredriksgade 4.