Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela — Attraction in Santiago de Compostela

The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, located in Galicia, is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the Christian world. It marks the traditional end of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) pilgrimage route and is believed to house the relics of Saint James the Great, one of Jesus Christ's apostles.

The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral has been a major pilgrimage site for centuries, drawing millions of pilgrims from around the world. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its historical and architectural significance.

The initial church on the site was built in the 9th century, following the discovery of what were believed to be the remains of Saint James in the early 800s. King Alfonso II of Asturias commissioned the first church.

The current Romanesque cathedral was constructed starting in 1075 under the reign of Alfonso VI of León and Castile, with the main structure completed by 1211. It was consecrated in that year by King Alfonso IX of León.

Over the centuries, the cathedral underwent numerous additions and modifications, incorporating Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical elements.

• The original design of the cathedral is predominantly Romanesque, characterized by its robust, heavy structure, rounded arches, and thick walls.

• The Obradoiro façade, completed in the 18th century, is a masterpiece of Spanish Baroque architecture. Designed by Fernando de Casas Novoa, it features intricate stonework and dramatic ornamental elements.

• One of the cathedral's most celebrated features is the Portico of Glory (Pórtico de la Gloria), a Romanesque portico completed in 1188 by Master Mateo. It is renowned for its detailed and expressive sculptures, depicting Biblical scenes and figures, including a statue of Saint James.

• The interior of the cathedral is vast and awe-inspiring, with a high nave, impressive vaults, and richly decorated chapels. The high altar is particularly notable, featuring a Baroque baldachin and an elaborate statue of Saint James.

• One of the cathedral's unique elements is the Botafumeiro, a giant thurible (incense burner) used during certain liturgical ceremonies. Suspended from the ceiling, it swings dramatically across the transept, filling the cathedral with incense.

• The cathedral's crypt houses the silver reliquary allegedly containing the remains of Saint James. Pilgrims traditionally visit the crypt to pay their respects.

• The cathedral complex includes beautiful cloisters and a museum that exhibits religious artifacts, artworks, and historical objects related to the pilgrimage and the cathedral itself.

Dream of a lifetime destroyed. I was enjoying the special pilgrim mass after completing the 100km camino, with blisters on my feet and my body aching, but my mind renewed. This enjoyment was torpedoed during the eucharist as the security officer suddenly reprimanded my partner who had just received the bread, then the PRIEST himself took it away from him, causing visible humiliation and distress, particularly as he did not speak Spanish. Out of respect, I approached the security woman after mass and asked why she and the priest had done this. She told me that he was supposed to eat it there and then, not take it to his seat. When I explained that he was autistic and very nervous to be among so many people, and was probably just a bit overwhelmed by the social situation, she smirked and said "A true Catholic would have behaved better". I told her none of what transpired was very Catholic, which elicited a rather lively reaction from a supposed Christian, then left before I said anything else. I immediately explained the situation to the staff at the pilgrim office round the corner, only to be informed by the staff there that she had already radioed them to alert them to the situation, and to bar us entry to further tourist points, as we were troublemakers (insane behaviour - truly nothing short of chilling...) The staff there listened to my explanation, then commented to each other in Gallego (thinking I could not understand their language) that I was "incapable of understanding". They became mildly sympathetic when I burst into tears at the whole hideous situation which was compounded by a complete absence of compassion, but told me in no uncertain terms that he should have simply hurried up and eaten the bread at the altar.

Let it be known - this pilgrimage for me was an homage to my Catholic faith which will now likely never recover. Shame on that priest who preaches love but practises hate. Shame on that security officer who bows before the altar but sneers at fellow Christians. Shame on the Catholic Church who empowers evil like them. Shame on the people who watched but said nothing. Shame on me for taking him to what was not a safe space. Shame on the Cathedral of Santiago.

Avoid this unholy place, and beware always of wolves in sheep's clothing.

The cathedral is very beautiful. But what spoiled my impression was a security guy who was extremely rude. Together with the rest of the pilgrims I finished the Camino de Santiago and wanted to attend the mass. After 2 weeks of walking under a heavy train and later burning sun, that was supposed to be a highlight. There was a mass dedicated specifically to pilgrims. Though around 20% of people in the queue were locals, clearly not pilgrims. When we reached the door, the security guy closed it with around 30 pilgrims left outside and said that he would not let us in. People started complaining that the mass was for pilgrims and we didn't get a chance to get inside, while local people who can attend any mass on any day were let through. That security guy started very aggressively telling me that sports outfit doesn't mean that I'm a pilgrim, as well as my pilgrim passport. He was almost shouting at me that I'm not a real pilgrim. It was so aggressively and abusive that I spent a long time crying on the stairs. I could not believe that someone could tell that to me. This long and spiritual path ended with an employee of the cathedral demolishing that experience. And what is more important, the cathedral was not full. Not at all. My friend who got inside was messaging me that there is plenty of space and it could fit in many more dozens of people. Later on I attended another mass. And the same guy was acting very similar. He would come to a microphone saying, that now only Catholics are allowed to get the communion. If you're not Catholic, do not participate. He repeated it very aggressively that made me and other people not welcomed there. I never thought that a cathedral can be so unwelcoming. Other churches welcome other christians who are not Catholic, as well as people from other religions. Here it was a clear segregation.