St james Catedral

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain is the spiritual center of the archdiocese and the famous end point of the Camino de Santiago. It stands above a burial site attributed to the Apostle James, and because the remains found there were officially recognized, it is regarded as his final resting place. Construction began in 1075 under King Alfonso VI on the foundations of an older church dating from the 8th century. Over the centuries the building was expanded several times, so that today a variety of architectural styles come together, including the Romanesque south portal, the Gothic cloisters, the neoclassical north facade, and the Baroque west portal. This historical layering has considerably enlarged the cathedral's footprint.

Visitors who enter the cathedral via the Praza do Obradoiro first encounter the Pórtico de la Gloria. Created in the 12th century by Maestro Mateo, this portal is a masterpiece of Romanesque sculpture, strongly inspired by the Book of Revelation. It depicts Christ as judge and redeemer, surrounded by angels bearing the instruments of the Passion as well as the four Evangelists. Beyond it opens the wide nave, which draws your eye to the magnificent high altar, built directly above the apostle's tomb. Beneath the altar lies the crypt, where a silver shrine containing the relics of James is venerated. Pilgrims can climb a staircase there to embrace the statue of the saint from behind and say a prayer of thanks.

The Botafumeiro offers a special experience: a huge censer that hangs from the ceiling on a long rope. On major feast days it is swung by a team of men to fill the space with incense, which originally served to mask the smell of pilgrims who had kept vigil through the night. The cathedral is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old Town of Santiago de Compostela and symbolizes the spiritual and cultural significance of the place for pilgrims and tourists alike.