When the Botafumeiro is in operation, the celebration becomes very crowded, so it's a good idea to arrive early if you want a good view. To be sure of a good view and so as not to miss anything, the best place to stand is in the transept. This event is both moving and spectacular: it requires several people to swing the great thurible, and the aroma it gives off is particularly evocative. What's more, if it's a Holy Year, you'll have the chance to see the famous Botafumeiro.
This is celebrated daily at midday, and during the ceremony a welcome is extended to all the pilgrims who have completed the Way of Saint James, with a mention of their place of origin. We return to the Cathedral to attend the Pilgrims' Mass. The features worth noting in the interior include the old restored walnut choir from the Cathedral. – suggested timetable: 11-11:45 am.)īehind the Cathedral, as we go out through the Azabachería door, we reach the Plaza de la Inmaculada square with the Church of San Martín Pinario. To make sure you can visit the cathedral at your preferred time, the best idea is to reserve the tickets beforehand by phone (+34 902557812) or by e-mail ( then pick them up at the Visitor Reception Centre a little before the tour begins.Ĭhurch and Monastery of San Martín Pinario (45 min. If you wish to take the tour in English, you need to say so in advance. Visits to the roofs are in groups, every hour on the hour. The sensation of the wind on your face, this elevated vantage point, the view… it will all leave you speechless. This itinerary takes us through the interior of the Gelmírez Palace, past the Cathedral gallery (above the Gloria doorway) and up to the roofs of the cathedral. To do so we make for the Museum, located to the side of the Cathedral in the Plaza del Obradoiro square. We decide to take the guided tour of the Cathedral roofs, which allows us to climb to the very top of the building and look out over the historic centre from the heights. In the summer months and in a Holy Year (when 25 July falls on a Sunday), it is a good idea to be patient, as the number of people who visit Santiago de Compostela is considerably higher.Ĭathedral roofs (45 min. Going through this doorway is a very special experience, although the large crowds of people who do so in Holy Years mean you may have to wait. As we go through the ambulatory, we will see the Holy Door, which is only opened in Holy Years (when the 25 July falls on a Sunday). We then go up to the Main Altar to embrace the statue of Santiago and to get a different and less common view of the Cathedral. We follow the traditional route in our tour of the Cathedral and go down into to the crypt, which contains the remains of the apostle.
This custom originates from the university students who used to do this to increase their intelligence and for good luck in their exams. Behind the mullion, years ago, people performed a curious ritual: knocking their heads three times (gently) on the statue of Master Mateo. The first thing to meet our eyes is the Gloria doorway. We go in through the door in the Plaza del Obradoiro square, where there will be pilgrims arriving from all over the country from the start of the day (remember that, if you are a group, you must go through the Visitor Reception Centre and pay an admission fee). There is only one way to start off a day out in Santiago: in the Cathedral. Here are some ideas for spending an unforgettable day in Santiago de Compostela.Ĭathedral of Santiago Apóstol (approx. It is also part of Spain's unique cultural heritage thanks to its historic quarter, awarded the World Heritage designation by the UNESCO, its exquisite gastronomy featuring a wealth of typical dishes, as well as being a lively and attractive destination thanks to its condition of university city.
The city of Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, is not only the final destination on the pilgrims’ route known as the Way of Saint James.
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