🐚 Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

About This Sacred Site

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in northwestern Spain is the destination of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), one of the most important Christian pilgrimages since the Middle Ages. The cathedral houses what is believed to be the tomb of Saint James the Apostle, discovered in the 9th century. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walk hundreds of kilometers along various routes across Europe to reach this cathedral, making it one of the most significant pilgrimage experiences in the world.

Key Facts

• •Over 300,000 pilgrims complete the Camino de Santiago each year
• •The tomb of Saint James was discovered around 820 CE
• •The cathedral was built between 1075 and 1211
• •The Botafumeiro, a giant censer weighing 53 kg, swings through the transept during special masses
• •The Camino has been a UNESCO World Heritage route since 1993

Location

Coordinates: 42.8805, -8.5446