Catedral de Santiago de Compostela

Gayle and I returned to the Cathedral de Santiago de Compestela earlier this year, after an absence of 12 years. Back in 2010, we were in our Honeymoon and drove here. This time we walked to the Cathedral at the end of our 6 day Camino Ingles walk of around 113 km. And let me tell you, there's very little more gratifying than posing for a picture at the end of our Camino at the Cathedral for a job well done!

The Cathedral plaza was buzzing with activity as many peregrinos arrived around the same time we did. Hugs, smiles, laughter, tears, and pictures were in full display in all directions. And later from the stillness of our hotel room (the Parador), we witness more of this from our window.

Our next highlight was obtaining the final stamp of the Cathedral of Santiago on the official pilgrim credenciales, and receiving the traditional certificate, the Compostela. This was done at the nearby Pilgrim's Reception Office operated by Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela.

Next on our agenda was the traditional Pilgrim's mass. I'm not Catholic, but I especially enjoyed (and even understood) the homily and the pagentry, even though it was all in Spanish.

Yet, the star of the mass was to enjoy the swinging of the Botafumeiro. This is a giant thurible or censer which has been use since the Middle Ages and swung daily during this holy year. This swinging pot was originally used to clean the air in church, with crowds of pilgrims arrived after walking for days...before showers and hotels became available.

Several men (tiraboleiros), are required to operate the Botafumeiro. After being filled with incense and coal (weighing 140 pounds and being 5 feet high), the pot is tied to a rope hanging by the altar and set in motion with great precision, forming an impressive 214 feet long arched trajectory along the cathedral. Gayle and I found this to be an incredible sight, of which Yelp readers will miss, as this platform does not accept videos.

Finally, there is gratitude. That includes for arriving at the Cathedral safely, allowing us to reflect on our journey, and having the privilege of meeting many interesting fellow pilgrims along the way.

Amazing beginning to our Camino to Finnisterre. Leave your large back packs at the Pilgrim House nearby if you want to attend the Pilgrims' mass.

What a beautiful church. We came to the peregrino mass and other masses and it was awesome. Very well organized to keep the sanctity and also handle the many tourists. We did the tour of the museum and the ceiling tour and that is a must for amazing view of the city and great perspectives from behind the scenes of this majestic church. Our camino was an amazing journey and we received so many graces and blessings during our pilgrimage to St. James tomb.

Buen Camino!!


Jesus, Mary, and Joseph conform our hearts to Yours.

Truly an amazing cathedral with all the history. Seeing the joy on the faces of people who just completed their pilgrimage. The church is so beautiful. Feeling bless able to see St. James burial place is surreal.

Review #500! FOR ALL THE GLORY!

Ok, perhaps not. This cathedral has stood around since the 13th century and there is nothing I can write about the location or the pilgrimage that someone else hasn't already written. Moreover, my experiences during this trip completely surpass my capabilities as a writer. However, considering this adventure easily cemented itself as my most coveted memory/accomplishment of 2019, I could not find any other place more suitable for a review.

For those unaware, I hiked the Camino de Santiago (a network of trails through the Spanish countryside), completing my pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and the burial site of the apostle St. James the Greater. It was such a positive experience that I will recommend this trail to anyone capable of doing so. If you must forgo the hike and merely visit the cathedral, that's cool too, but I will advocate for walking the Camino.

___THE CATHEDRAL___
This is one of the only three known churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle of Jesus. So of course, the cathedral itself is quite massive and grand with awe-inspiring architecture and an abundance of stunning statues as well as other various works of art. I recommend visiting the crypt to kneel at the remains of St. James, hugging the statue of St. James to offer thanks for a safe journey, attending the pilgrim's mass, and taking the tour of the cathedral.

Events here are popular, especially between April and October (when pilgrims usually complete the Camino) with peak season occurring July and August. Lines tend to run long so expect to wait around or try to arrive during off-hours. The pilgrim mass is particularly crowded. Arrive early to secure a seat. Additionally, leave your large packs in a secure location before mass. I arrived for pilgrim mass and the security guard politely told me to leave my pack on a bench outside. I do not recommend that option due to risk of theft. Luckily, I snagged a hotel room in the area and was able to leave my belongings with the front desk there.

Pay attention to the year you visit. Any year when the Feast of St. James (July 25th) falls on a Sunday is considered a Jubilee Year or Holy Year. During these times, the Camino is typically flooded with pilgrims looking to obtain plenary indulgence (forgiveness of sins) and cross through the holy doors of the cathedral which are only open for Jubilee. As of this writing, the next three Holy Years are 2021, 2027, and 2032.

If you're only looking to visit the cathedral without actually walking the Camino, consider planning your trip during the winter months as there are fewer pilgrims around.

___THE CAMINO___
There's something about the Camino that makes it challenging to explain. Rather, this is best comprehended through the experience. You travel to another country for an adventure, immerse yourself in another culture, encounter buildings that predate your own country, spend quite some time in your own head, build surprisingly strong bonds with complete strangers, and visit one of the most beloved religious sites on earth. There's also this peculiar sense of solidarity from waking up every day and hiking for miles with a bunch of random people you just met. The end of the journey was crazy too. I've watched so many vlogs and documentaries about this place that walking through the tunnel into the main square seemed so surreal.

Definitely prepare yourself. Spend time walking long distances and hills before your journey. Take account of everything you need to bring. Familiarize yourself with your gear. Pay attention to pack weight. Wear proper footwear that you have broken in already so as to prevent blisters. Bring a hat and sunblock or purchase those on the trail. Expect rainy weather too. I'm running out of room in this review so just do your research.

Lastly, I've heard accounts of people who rushed to complete the Camino only to arrive at Santiago de Compostela feeling unfulfilled. They put on their headphones, hike at a frantic pace, and focus so much on the destination that they completely miss the journey. That's such a shame. Like c'mon! It's not a race. The cathedral has been around since the 13th century and it's not going anywhere. Take your time and try to give yourself more time than you think you need to complete the distance you set for yourself. Take breaks. Stop for a 2nd cup of coffee. Stop for a beer. Grab some Galician food (which is fantastic btw). Talk to pilgrims and locals. Just enjoy the experience and enjoy being there.

Buen Camino!

Such a beautiful Cathedral located in a lovely area of Santiago De Compostela. The Cathedral is on the St. James way path which our tour group has been stopping at sites. I have to say the architecture of the Cathedral as well as surrounding building in the area are breath taking.

The area is reasonably easy to navigate through but do expect a brief wait going in to Cathedral as well as a longer wait (10-15 minutes on a Monday) to see the shrine that is enclosed and houses the remains of St. James. The shrine is immaculate in detail. Unfortunately there was construction going on in the interior due to some illegal graffiti. But we were still very pleased with our visit.

I cannot speak regarding parking and did not notice a dedicated parking lot.

Truly an architectural marvel. Although it was being remodeled when I went, I found out I could still go inside to see the tomb of St. James.

The entrance is on the right side if you're facing the cathedral front. It's free but you can't have backpacks and/or the security checks them first. There was no line when I went. They don't give you a stamp. Make sure you look up and see the botafumeriro in the main section. St. James' tomb is in the back down some steps.

The Plaza Quintana behind the cathedral is also nice.

Unfortunately, I did not get to walk one of the many miles of pathways that lead to this shrine. My allotted vacation time constraints did not allow enough time to walk the "Camino". But not being able to walk did not hold me back from visiting. I'm sure I did not have the same experience as all the other pilgrims that walked for many days had. This place has a very special good feeling to it. I took a 40 minute train ride from Coruna to here as a day trip. The Renfre trains are very clean and the employees are very nice.

My day here started early in the morning. Everywhere I walked I saw pilgrims that did the long walk. It appeared as if most of them were not part of any large organized groups. As the day progressed hundreds of travelers turned into thousands, coming from what felt like all directions. Many were by themselves, and others belonged to large groups that were led by someone with a flag that served as a beacon to those that strayed from their groups. Many chanted prayers and others broke out into happy songs in delight of their arrival at their final destination after a long difficult journey. Thousands of people converged onto the plaza in front of the cathedral. Yet it all felt quite orderly. Many walked and many limped down the streets. But they all had a sense of accomplishment across their faces. Many groups were from certain countries. I heard Gallego, Castellano, Catalan, French, German, Italian, Portuguese to name a few. In the middle ages Christians were expected to make a pilgrimage to either Rome, Jerusalem, or Santiago Compostella at least once in their life times if possible.

Now days, the pilgrimage is just voluntary. Many use the time to reflect on their lives. While others use it to find meaning. In the old section of the city next to the cathedral I found the medieval streets to be beautiful and filled with shops and very good restaurants. Eating in this part of the country is very reasonable and absolutely delicious. In my opinion its also the best value eating in all of Spain. The seafood in Galicia is prestine and the steaks are some of the best I have had anywhere. If the day is cool and rainy; then, I highly recommend a large bowl of delicious Gallego soup with some hardy Gallego bread to warm you up and put a smile on your face.

Your visit here should include very comfortable shoes to wear even if you did not walk the Camino. There are several museums, churches, plazas, restaurants, streets that invite you to explore. The next time I visit, I would prefer to stay in town for at least one night for additional exploration the following day.

Even though the Catedral was closed when we finished the Camino Frances, we still took a tour of the museum and other sections. It's the official end of your Camino and truly a special place for every Peregrino and visitor. Such a beautiful place and sight for sore eyes (and feet). Can't wait to see it again at the end of my next Camino.

This is a main pilgrimage site for people from all over the world - a lot of people standing outside the building came from the Camino de Santiago. The inside is beautiful and covered in gold, and there is a statue of a saint that you can go up an hug. I'm not Catholic so I'm not sure which saint it is, but it was a very nice cathedral.