Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela: monuments in Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña at Spain is culture.

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Architecture and monuments / Romanesque / Santiago de Compostela

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

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Santiago cathedral © Turespaña
censer in Santiago cathedral © Turespaña
Santiago cathedral © Turespaña
La Gloria portico in Santiago cathedral © Turespaña

The end of the pilgrimage

The Cathedral of Santiago is the end of the pilgrim's journey and its monumentality is worthy of such a deed. It is a key Romanesque work in which numerous architectonic styles converge.

The construction of the cathedral began in the year 1075, during the reign of Alfonso VI and was promoted by Bishop Diego Peláez. Work was carried out under the orders of maestro Esteban on the remains of old temples raised in devotion to the saint. It was built with three naves and a Latin cross plan, on a surface area of around 8,300 square metres. Its multiple extensions have increased the different architectonic styles in the building (Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Plateresque and Neoclassical). The Portico de la Gloria is the main entrance. It was constructed by Maestro Mateo in 1188 and houses hundreds of figures representing the Apocalypse. In it, the figure of the Apostle St. James appears to welcome the pilgrims from the Mullion, sustained on a column. The Obradoiro façade of the Cathedral was the work of Fernando de Casas y Novoa, and it is considered one of the greatest expressions of the Spanish Baroque period. The Main Altar is also in the Baroque style and the crypt of the Apostle St. James is located beneath it.