Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Catedral de Santiago de Compostela
The grand heart of Santiago, the cathedral soars above the city centre in a splendid
jumble of moss-covered spires and statues. Though Galicia's grandest monument was
built piecemeal through the centuries, its beauty is only enhanced by the mix of
Romanesque, baroque and Gothic flourishes.
The baroque Obradoiro facade was erected in the 18th century partly to protect the
cathedral's original entrance.
The artistically unparalleled
Pórtico de la Gloria
(Galician: Porta da Gloria) features
200 Romanesque sculptures by Maestro Mateo, who was placed in charge of the
cathedral-building program in the late 12th century by Fernando II of León.
Towards the far (west) end of the cathedral's main nave, to the right of the Churriguer-
esque
Altar Mayor
(Main Altar), a small staircase leads up, above the altar, to a 13th-
century
statue of Santiago
, which the faithful queue up to embrace. From here you
emerge on the left side, then descend some steps to contemplate what you are assured is
Santiago's
tomb
. Behind the Altar Mayor is the
Puerta Santa
(Holy Door), which opens
onto the Praza da Quintana and is cracked open only in holy years (next in 2021).
A special pilgrims' Mass is celebrated at noon daily. Other high-altar Masses take place
at 10am, 6pm and (except Sunday) 7.30pm.
For an unforgettable bird's-eye view of the city, take the cathedral
rooftop tour
, start-
ing in the Pazo de Xelmírez to the left of the cathedral's Obradoiro facade.
7am-9pm)
; rooftop tour
(
981 55 29 85;
www.santiagoturismo.com
; per person €10;
10am-2pm & 4-8pm)
Pilgrimage Museum
MUSEO DAS PEREGRINACIÓNS
(
www.mdperegrinacions.com
; Rúa de San Miguel 4; 10am-8pm Tue-Fri,
10.30am-1.30pm & 5-8pm Sat, 10.30am-1.30pm Sun)
Eight rooms explore the
Camino de Santiago phenomenon over the centuries.
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