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Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

s/n Praza do Obradoiro, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia

Description

The Santiago de Compostela Arch-cathedral Basilica is the final destination of the Way of St James (Camino de Santiago) pilgrimage routes crossing France and the Iberian Peninsula. It was built between the late 11th and early 13th century in Romanesque style, with later Gothic and Baroque additions, and owes its fame as the burial place of Saint James the Great, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. Highlights include the Obradoiro façade completed by Fernando de Casas Novoa in Baroque style and the Portico of the Glory completed by Master Mateo and his workshop in 1188, the façade "da Acibecharía", and the main altarpiece.

Access & Transport

The church is centre stage in the town of Santiago de Compostela, 1.2km north of the train station. It is 70km to A Coruña on the AP-9 or 30mins by train. Porto is 230km away, across the Portuguese border.

Instructions & Recommendations

To see the Pórtico da Gloria, the museum admission ticket is required (12/10 €). There is also an option for museum + tour of the decks and access to the north tower (12/10 €).

Meta review

The cathedral needs no introduction and gets excellent reviews overall although visitors often seem to be describing their feeling at what it represents for them rather than the architecture itself, which a minority points out is rather impressive from the outside but actually quite plain (Romanesque) inside. The museum, cloister and roof visits are not in scope of this review but you will need to plan carefully for it, leaving sufficient time between your two bookings if you wish to cover all.

Environmental & Social

Environmentally neutral. Preserves this historic building, part of the city's cultural and architectural heritages

Conclusion

Out of all the cathedrals in the country, that of Santiago doesn't come close to being the most impressive from an architectural standpoint, but for most visitors that is secondary and it is through the lens of a temple of faith that they experience it - in that regard it scores high even though the commercial aspects are too close to the surface in our opinion.

Key positive

Impressive facades

The end of the Camino(s) de Santiago

Key negative

Expensive museum admission fee

Interior is a bit of a let down

Suitability

Accessible (except for the roof and tower) and no religious denomination restrictions

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

August 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Opening hours of the Museum are 10h00 to 20h00

av. transport time:0h 20m

est. visit time:1h 15m

Regulated hours

Monday07:00 - 21:00

Tuesday07:00 - 21:00

Wednesday07:00 - 21:00

Thursday07:00 - 21:00

Friday07:00 - 21:00

Saturday07:00 - 21:00

Sunday07:00 - 21:00

Pricing
There is an admission fee for the museum
Free

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