Came to Santiago for the Cathedral. It's one of THE sights in Spain and well-known beyond Spain…read more And definitely one of the most impressive Cathedrals I've ever visited. And I've seen many.
The Cathedral is the legendary burial site of Saint James the Greater, an apostle of Jesus Christ. According to tradition, his remains were discovered in the 9th century by a hermit guided by a miraculous star, prompting King Alfonso II to build a small church on the site. This discovery transformed the city into one of medieval Christendom's most important pilgrimage destinations, giving birth to the famous Camino de Santiago network. Construction of the grand Romanesque cathedral seen today began in 1075 under King Alfonso VI to accommodate the massive influx of pilgrims. Over the centuries, the structure expanded with magnificent Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque enhancements, most notably the iconic Obradoiro facade that dominates the main square today. Today, it remains a powerful living symbol of faith, European history, and spiritual endurance as millions of travelers continue to finish their journeys at its altar.
It's popular for good reason, it's an architectual masterpiece and full of details. We were just standing there in awe for a while, discovering more and more details everywhere we've looked. It's beautiful. We didn't go inside though, there was a pretty big queue and we were travelling with our Bulldog.
There were lots of visitors, but we managed to get a good look and some really nice pics. Later on several school groups arrived and the space filled up very quickly. We were happy being here before the place was really packed. I would advise to show up here surely before lunchtime.
After visiting don't miss out on the rest of town. There are plenty of wonderful streets and lanes to discover. More interesting buildings and art everywhere. Also the nice (but pricey) market.
