Santiago de Compostela Cathedral stands on the Praza do Obradoiro in the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela, in northwestern Spain. Also known as the Catedral de Santiago, it is the final destination of the Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage route that has drawn walkers and travellers to this city for centuries.
What to see
The cathedral is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, and its exterior and interior reward slow looking. Its most important feature is the shrine of Saint James the Apostle, which lies at the heart of the building and explains why the city became one of Christendom's great places of pilgrimage.
Planning your visit
- Location: Praza do Obradoiro, s/n, 15704 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Phone: +34 981 583 548.
- Setting: the square in front of the cathedral is one of the focal points of the old town, so the visit pairs naturally with a walk through its streets.
Whether you come as a pilgrim who has walked the Camino or as a traveller interested in architecture and history, the cathedral offers a visit that is both spiritual and artistic. Allow time to step back into the square and take in the building from the outside before or after going in.