The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is located in Galicia, Spain and marks the end of the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. Construction began in 1075 and continued throughout the 12th century. The cathedral has a barrel-vaulted interior and houses the relics of St. James, as the crypt was the final destination for pilgrims. Notable features include the Botafumeiro censer, sculptures on the façade depicting the apostles and prophets, and two bell towers dating back to the 12th century.

1. Santiago de Compostela
Cathedral
BY. Javi V, Chema, Rafa R,
Rafa L

2. THE CATHEDRAL
• The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is one
of the most important religious structures in
the whole of Spain, particularly because it
marks the end of the 790 kilometres (490
miles) that make up the Camino de Santiago
pilgrimage route. Located in the region of
Galicia, in the northwest of Spain, it is a key
attraction much-visited by tourists and locals
alike.

3. CONSTRUCTION
• Construction of the Santiago de Compostela
Cathedral began in 1075, during the reign of
Alfonso VI. It was built under the direction of
Bishop Diego Peláez, on the site of an old church
dedicated to Saint Santiago.
• Work on the cathedral stopped after the initial
stages and didn’t continue until 1100, when
architect Master Esteban created three naves in
the shape of a Latin cross. Construction carried on
throughout the 12th century, and many
extensions were added over the years.

4. INTERIOR
• The Cathedral is 97m long and 22m high. It
preserves its original barrel-vaulted cruciform(that
is semi-circular arches supporting the roof)
Romanesque interior. It consist of a nave, two
lateral aisles, a wide transept and a choir with
radiating chapels. Compared with many other
imporntant churches, the interior of this cathedral
gives a first impression of austerity until one enters
further and sees the magnificant organ and the
exuberance of the choir. This catedral, through its
monumental dimensions, is one of the largest
Romanesque church in Spain and even one of the
largest in europe.

5. CRYPT
• The crypt, below the main altar, shows the
substructure of the 9th-century church. This was
the final destination of the pilgrims. The silver
reliquary was put in the crypt at the end of the
19th century.
• Throughout the course of time, the burial place
of the saint had been almost forgotten. Because
of regular Dutch and English incursions, the relics
had been transferred in 1589 from their place
under the main altar to a safer place. They were
rediscovered in January 1879.

6. TYMPANIUM
• The arrangement of the tympanum is
based on the description of Christ that
John the Evangelist makes in Revelation. In
the centre, the Pantocrator is shown, with
the image of Christ in Majesty, displaying in
his hands and feet the wounds of
crucifixion. Surrounding Christ, the
tetramorph with the figures of the Four
Evangelists with their attributes: left, top St.
John and the eagle and below St. Luke with
the ox, on the right, above St. Matthew on
the hood of the tax collector and below St.
Mark and the lion.

7. SIDE DOORS
• The arch of the right door represents the Last
Judgment. The double archivolt is divided into
two equal parts by two heads. Some authors
identify these heads with the figures of
archangel Michael and Christ. For others, they
are Christ-Judge and an angel or may indicate
God the Father and God the Son. To the right of
these heads, Hell is represented with figures of
monsters (demons) that drag and torture the
souls of the damned. On the left, the Heaven
with the elect, with figures of angels with
children symbolizing the saved souls.

8. BOTAFUMEIRO
• A dome above the crossing contains the pulley
mechanism to swing the "Botafumeiro", which
is a famous thurible found in this church. It was
created by the goldsmith José Losada in 1851.
The Santiago de Compostela Botafumeiro is
the largest censer in the world, weighing 80 kg
and measuring 1.60 m in height. It is normally
on exhibition in the library of the cathedral, but
during certain important religious high days it
is attached to the pulley mechanism, filled with
40 kg of charcoal and incense.

9. JAMBS
• In the columns of the central door and two side doors,
the apostles are represented, as well as prophets and
other figures with their iconographic attributes. All are
topped with its own capital which represent different
animals and human heads with leaf motifs. The names
of all the figures are on the books or scrolls held in
their hands.
• The four pillars of the portico are based on strong
foundations which represent various groups of animals
and human heads with beards. For some historians,
these figures are images of demons and symbolize the
weight of glory crushing sin.

10. BELL TOWERS
• The early towers in the main façade of the cathedral
were Romanesque (current façade of the
Obradoiro). They are called the Torre das Campás,
which is situated on the side of the Epistle (right)
and Torre da Carraca, to the side of the Gospel
(left). The two have a height of between 75 and 80
metres.
• The first part of the tower was built in the 12th
century, but in the 15th century several
modifications were made.
• Due to a problem that was detected in its structure
between the 16th and 17th centuries, the towers
had to be reinforced with buttresses, between 1667
and 1670.