Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

Why go

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela, in the city's historic centre; the pilgrim routes that end there are a separate subject. The cathedral's own site says that, according to tradition, the body of Saint James the Apostle was taken by sea to Galicia and buried in a forest that is today the site of the cathedral. Its visits page names the Porta das Praterías as the entrance to the basilica and the Apostle's tomb, says backpacks are not allowed inside for security reasons, and lists museum visits to the permanent collection, the Xelmírez (Gelmírez) Palace, the Portico of Glory and the roof as visits to book. Its Portico of Glory page says that, after a restoration carried out between 2008 and 2018, the number of people in the Portico at one time is limited to protect it. Opening hours are set by the cathedral, so check its site before you go.