Cathedral De Santiago de Compostela
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Why go
- Spain’s largest Romanesque church, and one of Europe’s largest.
- Master Mateo’s sculpted Pórtico da Gloria, completed in 1188.
- The lavish Baroque Obradoiro façade, incorporating two medieval towers.
- The Botafumeiro swinging across the transept in clouds of incense, carried by eight red-robed tiraboleiros on major feast days or by request.
- The south Pratarías façade, the cathedral’s only surviving Romanesque façade.
Don't miss
- Saint James’s shrineThe crypt beneath the main altar contains a silver shrine with relics attributed to Saint James and preserves the substructure of a ninth-century church.Crypt beneath the main altar
- Main altarA gilded canopy crowns the altar, with a decorated 13th-century statue of Saint James; pilgrims follow a narrow passage behind it to kiss the saint’s mantle.Choir
- Gold crucifixThe Chapel of the Reliquary contains a gold crucifix dated 874, with a piece of the True Cross.Chapel of the Reliquary
- Mondragón Chapel ironworkLook for the chapel’s notable ironwork and vaulted ceiling dating to 1521.Mondragón Chapel
Know before you go
- Enter the basilica through Porta de Praterías.
- Backpacks are not permitted inside the temple for security reasons.
- The Porta Santa usually opens only in a Jacobean Holy Year, when Saint James’ Day falls on a Sunday.
Tips for your visit
- Book the permanent collection, cloister, and Treasury and Relics Chapel through the cathedral website.
- Xelmírez Palace visits require booking.
- Book visits to the roofs and Ratchet Tower through the cathedral website.
- Book the Pórtico da Gloria visit through the cathedral website.
- The Pilgrim’s Reception Office is at rúa Carretas, 33.
- Consult the cathedral website for Botafumeiro information and service schedules.
Interesting facts4
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The cathedral was built mainly from granite.
Catedral de Santiago de Compostela - Wikipedia -
The Obradoiro façade was built to protect the Pórtico da Gloria from the weather.
Kathedrale von Santiago de Compostela - Wikipedia -
59 stops
The organ has 59 stops across three manuals and a pedal.
Kathedrale von Santiago de Compostela - Wikipedia -
1, 2 and
The Obradoiro façade appears on Spain’s 1, 2 and 5 cent coins.
Kathedrale von Santiago de Compostela - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
The Romanesque building gained Gothic and Baroque additions, with extensive embellishment and expansion between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. Excavations beneath the apse in 1879 uncovered foundations associated with the original tomb. The cathedral received cultural heritage status in 1896, and the old town and cathedral became UNESCO World Heritage in 1985.
- Early 9th c.According to legend, the hermit Pelayo discovered the tomb after seeing strange lights. King Alfonso II later ordered a chapel at the site.
- 829–899A church replaced the chapel in 829. A larger pre-Romanesque church followed in 899.
- 997Al-Mansur’s forces burned the early church, while the tomb remained intact.
- 1075Construction of the present cathedral began under Alfonso VI and Bishop Diego Peláez.
- 1120The cathedral became an archbishopric seat, with Diego Gelmírez as its first archbishop.
Show all
- 1211The cathedral was consecrated in the presence of Alfonso IX of León.
- 1740Fernando de Casas Novoa completed the Baroque façade facing Praza do Obradoiro.
How to get there
- On footThe west entrance from Praza do Obradoiro is reached by a double staircase and leads to the Pórtico da Gloria.
- On footThe north façade stands on Praza da Inmaculada, also called Acibecharía.
- On footThe east façade overlooks Plaza de la Quintana and has the Porta Real and Porta Santa.
Sources: Santiago de Compostela Cathedral - Wikipedia · Santiago de Compostela Cathedral - Wikipedia (p… · Santiago de Compostela Cathedral - Wikipedia (p… · Santiago de Compostela - Wikivoyage (see) · Inicio | Catedral de Santiago · Hours, tickets, audio guides | Catedral de Sant… · Kathedrale von Santiago de Compostela - Wikiped… · Catedral de Santiago de Compostela - Wikipedia · Cathédrale de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle - Wi… · checked 28 Sep 2026
- Website
- catedraldesantiago.es/
Questions and answers
What can I see on the Pórtico da Gloria’s central column at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela?
Saint James sits holding a pilgrim’s staff and a scroll reading “Misit me Dominus.”
What happened to the original north portal of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela?
Built in 1122, it was demolished after a fire in 1758.
What is special about the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela’s Clock Tower bells?
Berenguela marks the hours and a smaller bell marks the quarter hours. Replicas replaced the cracked originals in February 1990.
When is the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela open?
The cathedral opens daily from 07:00 to 21:00.
Why does the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela’s Clock Tower lantern stay lit during a Holy Year?
It remains lit throughout the year to guide pilgrims to the cathedral.
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