The project consumed a third of Romania’s budget over 5 years.
Despite being the object of disdain, it is Bucharests most visited tourist attraction.
At USD 4 billion, it is also the most expensive administrative building in the world.
Some 40,000 people were forcibly relocated.
One-fifth of central Bucharest was razed to the ground including a hill.
Photo credit:Nico Trinkhaus/Flickr
Construction began in 1984.
Between 20,000 and 100,000 workers toiled in 24-hour shifts, seven days a week.
Some 3,000 people were reported to have died.
The palace is 240 meters long, 270 meters wide and 12 stories tall.
Inside the palace there are 1,100 rooms with total floor area of 365,000 square meters.
3,500 metric tones of crystal was consumed to manufacture 480 chandeliers.
He was later captured and executed by firing squad.
The building was eventually completed in 1994.
70% of the building still remains empty.
