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Catedral de Santiago de Compostela (Santiago de Compostela Cathedral) Description: According to legend, the Catedral de Santiago de Compostela holds the remains of one of Christ’s apostles, St James (Santiago in Spanish), who was martyred in Jerusalem around AD 44. King Alfonso II of Asturias built a church over the tomb in the ninth century and this was expanded in later years, making the town the most important place of Christian pilgrimage after Jerusalem and Rome. The whole of Santiago de Compostela, apart from the tomb, was destroyed by the invading Moors in AD 997, and it was not until 1078 that King Alfonso VI of Leon and Castile ordered the building of the present cathedral, which was consecrated in 1211. Although it is predominantly Romanesque in style, significant additions have been made over the centuries, including a 15th-century dome and a Baroque façade called the Obradoiro. Within the Obradoiro is the Pórtico de Gloria (Gate of Glory), a porch featuring sculptured scenes of the Last Judgement by Maestro Mateo, considered to be Spain’s finest piece of Romanesque sculpture. Pilgrims used to complete their journey to Santiago by praying as they touched the roots of the Tree of Jesse, depicting Christ’s ancestors, which is carved into the Gate of Glory. One of the best, but also most crowded, times to visit the cathedral is during one of the special masses, where priests swing a huge incense-burner on a rope-and-pulley system from one end of the transept ceiling to the other. Santiago is still a place of pilgrimage for Christians, although nowadays many travellers walk the Camino de Santiago (Way of St James) simply to enjoy the mountainous green landscape that characterises northern Spain. Contact Addresses: Comisión de Cultura, Praza das Praterías s/n, 15704 Santiago de Compostela, Spain Tel: (0981) 583 548. Transportation: Air: Madrid Barajas Airport, Santiago de Compostela Lavacolla International Airport. Rail: Train: Hórreo Station, Santiago de Compostela. Road: Coach: ALSA run services to Santiago de Compostela Bus Station (from Madrid, Gijón, Bilbao and the rest of Europe). Car: A52 (from Madrid); A9 (from La Coruña or Ferrol); N-VI, then A9 (from Madrid). Opening Times: Daily 0730-1200 and 1300-2100. Admission Fees: Free. 
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