Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
Rising above the Praza do Obradoiro in a riot of Baroque granite towers, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is one of the most emotionally charged buildings in the world. Pilgrims have been arriving here since the 9th century, and the electricity in the air when a fresh wave of walkers stumbles into the square never fades.
The Façade and the Square
The twin towers of the Obradoiro façade, completed by Casas Novoa in 1750, are the defining image of Galicia — honey-gold at sunrise, silver-grey in the rain, and always theatrical. Stand in the centre of the square at dawn before the tour groups arrive and you will understand why people walk 800 km to reach this spot.
The square itself is ringed by four monumental buildings: the Pazo de Raxoi, the Hostal dos Reis Católicos (now a parador), the Colexio de San Xerome and the cathedral. Each one is worth a slow circuit before you even step inside.
Inside the Cathedral
The Pórtico da Gloria, a Romanesque masterpiece carved by Master Mateo in 1188 and recently restored to its original polychrome glory, greets you the moment you pass the main doors. The detail in the stone faces — grief, wonder, calm — is breathtaking at close range.
The Botafumeiro, an enormous silver thurible suspended from the transept ceiling, swings in a terrifying 65-metre arc during Pilgrim Masses. Check the cathedral's official schedule to catch one of the special services when it is used; it is a spectacle unlike anything else in European religious life.
More of Galicia
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Galicia →
