The main chapel was Romanesque in origin, but it was renovated during the Baroque by order of the new master builder, Jos de Vega y Verdugo, named by Innocent X. It was created by the goldsmith Jos Losada in 1851. Given the importance of the discovery, in the year 834, it became an episcopal seat, an issue that increased the number of people and pilgrims, favoring its social, economic and religious expansion, when the first religious monastic orders settled in it, they were times of Alfonso II, the Chaste, the first pilgrim to visit the remains of the Apostle, visiting what is now the Primitive Way, from the city of Oviedo. Santiago de Compostela Full-Day Tour From Porto. In the same way that the smoke from the incense rises to the top of the temples naves, so must the prayers by the pilgrims rise to reach the heart of God. Today there are two; one made from brass dating from 1851 by Jos Losada, which substituted the stolen one during the French occupation and which is the one that is used normally. It is the one of longest surviving Roman bridge in Spain. The image is by Aniceto Marinas. Both areas, with beautiful architecture and rib vaults, house some of the best examples of the Cathedrals painting collection, with works by Gregorio Ferro, Garca de Bouzas, etc. In the Portico an entire iconographic programme inspired on the Apocalypse was developed and which enlightened the worshippers who visited the Cathedral in a clear and understandable manner. Don't forget to visit the Praza das Platerias attached to the Cathedral, which gets its name from the medieval silversmith guilds that carried out their work tasks there. It is also the final destination of all the Roads to Compostela that, for centuries, led pilgrims from all over Christendom to the tomb of the apostle St. James. Legend has it that the king was the first pilgrim to this shrine. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is Spain's finest Romanesque work of art. At the foot of the saint there is another capital with the figures of the Holy Trinity. Updates? Construction of the present cathedral began in 1075 under the reign of Alfonso VI of Castile (10401109) and the patronage of bishop Diego Pelez. The complex is surrounded by 36 golden Solomonic columns and covered with branches. It is also among the remaining churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle, the other ones being St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, St Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai in India and Basilica of St. John in Izmir, Turkey. La Clock Tower, Also known as "Berenguela" or "Trinidad", is one of the best known elements of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. In 997, al-Mansur sacked the Christian cathedral at Santiago de Compostela (Palol and Hirmer 54). Pinterest. Santiago de Compostela is the capital city of Galicia, Spain, and one of the most important places in Catholicism because it is believed by many to be the place where St. James, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, is reputedly buried.. Galician Contemporary Art Centre (CGAC) Casa do Cabildo house. The Chevet of the Romanesque Cathedral consisted of a series of chapels and gates with an irregular and asymmetric appearance. Its main altarpiece, from 1707, is a work by Fernndez Espantoso. The cathedral was consecrated in 1211 in the presence of king Alfonso IX of Leon.[8][9]. Founded at the end of the 7th century, of funerary origin since there are XNUMX tombs from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth centuries. In 1677 this area became the Chapel of Saint Ferdinand, and the image of the Saint, a work by Juan de Seoane, was placed at the head of the Neo-Renaissance altar. It was built between 1103 and 1117 and elements from other parts of the cathedral have been added in subsequent years. An outstanding feature of the interior Read More Chapel whose medieval fabric has remained practically intact. On the left and right sides the Temptations of Jesus in the desert are narrated. This sculptor is considered the "Sculptor of the Camino de Santiago", well because of the numerous works he did in the French Way or by the disciples who had worked with him. This tower has the important peculiarity and it is that it is slightly inclined, so when you go to Santiago, look to check it. In the southern end of the Transept, this is the only Romanesque facade that is left of the Cathedral, maintaining its original architecture with barely any transformations, except for the addition of reliefs from other parts of the Cathedral and the Clock Tower and the Treasury Facade that flank it. Since the 17th century it has been the route to access the Chapel of La Corticela. It consists of a nave, two lateral aisles, a wide transept, and a choir with radiating chapels. The Faade of Plateras is the only one in Romanesque style that the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela has preserved. Being built, fundamentally, of granite. The cathedral is 97 m long and 22 m high. The Treasury is a rectangular space covered with ribbed vaults supported by corbels. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. [11], The arrangement of the tympanum is based on the description of Christ that John the Evangelist makes in Revelation (Chapter 1 v 1 to 18). And remember that on arrival in Santiago de Compostela you can pick up The Compostela that is issued at the Pilgrim's Office, located on Rua Das Carretas 33, next to the Cathedral, upon presentation of the pilgrim's Credential that proves having walked at least The Last 100 Kms on foot, for example the Camino de Santiago from Sarria, Or the Last 200 Kms, if you have done the Camino de Santiago by bicycle. The kings of Spain entered the cathedral through this door, hence its name, and the royal coat of arms on its lintel. The old Romanesque faade from the 1757th century was demolished in XNUMX and replaced by the current one, in the neoclassical style, under the supervision of Ventura Rodriguez. Its remarkable door is presided by an Epiphany. Chapel founded in 1521 by the Canon Juan de Mondragn. On the tabernacle is represented a Pilgrim Santiago, escorted by four kings: Alfonso II, Ramiro I, Fernando el Catlico and Felipe IV and, in the center, the shield of Spain. . Vaulted space with influence from the Burgos Gothic style. 91,419), capital of Galicia, in A Corua prov., NW Spain, on the Sar River.The city is one of the chief shrines of Christendom. A place full of magic. By Marielle Valenzuela. Every clustered pier is flanked by semi-columns, three of which carry the cross vaults of the side aisles and the truss of the arched vaults, while the fourth reaches to the spring of the vault. Above the arch that accesses the chapel there is one of the crosses of the consecration of the Cathedral, in 1211. The western facade of the medieval Cathedral has come down to us through the drawings by Vega y Verdugo. It is the burial place of Domingo de Andrade. On this tour, you will get to know the Cathedral of Santiago in its entirety, touring its museum and enjoying the best views of the city from the roofs of the cathedral and the viewpoint of the Torre de la Carraca, more than 50 meters high. At the top we see a fabulous canopy of the seventeenth century, supported by angels and crowned by the equestrian effigy of the apostle. Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela Relics of St James Photo by JFPenn. The altarpiece, now museumized, has recovered the purpose of container that it was created for, though it shows a selection of pieces of the Cathedral Treasury. As a significant element of it, the tower closes one "Lantern", that with its permanent light guides the pilgrims in the Holy Years. Declared Historic-Artistic Monument in 1986. Criterion (i): Around its cathedral, which is a world renowned masterpiece of Romanesque art, Santiago de Compostela conserves a valuable historic centre, known as one of Christianitys greatest holy cities. After observing them for several days, Pelayo informed Teodomiro, the Bishop of Iria Flavia, about the event. The work, which began in 1075, was interrupted in 1088 by disagreements with Bishop Diego Pelez, the works were resumed in 1110 with Bishop Diego Gelmrez. It is one of the most important in Spain, with a square plan, 34 meters on a side, in a Gothic-Renaissance style, built at the end of the XNUMXth century. They were executed between 1705-1709 by Miguel de Romay and Antonio Alfonsn, conditioned by premises and solutions provided by Domingo de Andrade. Above: Floor plan of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela as it appeared in the Middle Ages. An enormous baldachin, with a sumptuous decorated statue of Saint James from the 13th century, rises above the main altar. It is one of the small apsidal chapels of the Romanesque cathedral. The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is the reputed burial place of Saint James the Great, the apostle of Jesus Christ. These two were cast in 1729 by Gemes Sampedro. During the Neoclassic period the new Azabachera facade was executed and over the past one hundred years different actions have continued to be carried out. In the choir aisle the beautiful lattice work and the vault of the Mondragon chapel (1521) stand out. Under the Apostle there is a representation of the tree of Jesse, the name given to the family tree of Jesus Christ from Jesse, father of King David; this is the first time that this subject is represented in religious iconography in the Iberian Peninsula. Understand [] History []. The silver reliquary (by Jos Losada, 1886) was put in the crypt at the end of the 19th century, after authentication of the relics by Pope Leo XIII in 1884. [18][25], The early towers in the main faade of the cathedral were Romanesque (current faade of the Obradoiro). In the year 1527, it became "independent" from the Cathedral, date from which it is the champion of "pilgrims, foreigners and Basques.". The pilgrims can kiss the saint's mantle via a narrow passage behind the altar. But it is, without a doubt, the facade of the Obradoiro the work that will most influence the definitely baroque appearance of the Santiago Cathedral on the outside. The jambs are Saint Andrew and Moses. It is also known as the Chapel of the Piety or of the Holy Cross (because its patronage is dependant on the marquisate of the Holy Cross). Catedral de Santiago de Compostela. There is a record of the visits that the pilgrims had, from the roofs, in the Calixtino Codex: Whoever goes up there () even if he goes up sad is happy to see the splendid beauty of this temple. As cited in the Calxtino Codex, the works of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela could be completed between the years 1122 and 1124, some 47 years after they started. Mar 5, 2019 - Find out all about the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, from when it was built to elements of its construction. Cathedral Of Santiago Compostela Art Print. In the 872 King Alfonso III, the Great, ordered the construction of a larger temple. Its current altarpiece with the Virgen de la Soledad comes from the cathedral's retrochoir. Tradition says that here, after sleeping in the stands, the pilgrims they left their old clothes to be burned in the small space behind the cross, as a symbol of purification and the beginning of a new life. The canopy began to be built under the orders of Jos Vera y Verdugo around 1658. This is the central chapel of the ambulatory. Its current structure dates from the 15th century, maintaining the mentioned Espaa as the patron together with Our Lady La Blanca, a Baroque image made by Gregorio Fernndez in 1744 which presides the Neo-gothic altarpiece, from 1906, by Magarios. Its plan is a Greek cross and is presided by the crucifix that gives it its name, dating from the 18th century. Bernard the Elder, Admirable Master, and Roberto, began the construction of the Romanesque Cathedral in 1075, during the reign of Alfonso VI, when Diego Pelez was bishop. Historical Bridge, built by the Romans. The Cathedral of Santiago Santiago de Compostela is the Capital of Galicia and the final point of the Camino de Santiago. Behind the portico stands the statue of Maestro Mateo, the master architect and sculptor put in charge of the cathedral building programme in the 12th century by Fernando II. The city has been an important Catholic pilgrimage route since the ninth century with many intriguing landmarks. The middle pier represents Saint James, his face conveying an ecstatic serenity. [7] When Crdoba was taken by king Ferdinand III of Castile in 1236, these same gates and bells were then transported by Muslim captives to Toledo, to be inserted in the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo. Located on the northeast end of the Cloister, through which it is accessed, it was founded in 1529 and stands out because of its magnificent altarpiece, attributed to the Compostela atelier of Jos Gambino and with the sure participation of Ferreiro. Romanesque construction on a Latin cross ground plan, longitudinal arm and transept in three aisles, ambulatory in the sanctuary and . It has Renaissance pulpits at the entrance, on both sides, with scenes from the life of the Apostle made by Juan Bautista Celma in 1578. The Prataras faade, built by the Master Esteban in 1103, and most importantly the Prtico da Gloria, an early work of Romanesque sculpture, were completed by Master Mateo in 1188. In between, the urn (representing the found tomb) and the star (representing the lights Hermit Pelagius saw) between angels and clouds. The city is named after this special event, as Santiago de Compostela literally means Saint James of the Field of Stars. The lateral portals are dedicated to the Jews on the left and to the unbelievers on the right. It is a marvelous example of Romanesque architecture and a place where millions of pilgrims from all over Europe and the world have . The chapel stands out for the wealth of its decoration and materials, using jasper and marble, especially in its altarpiece, by Miguel de Romay. In 997 the church was destroyed but Saint James's tomb survived, although the Gates and bells were taken to the Aljama Mosque at Cordoba. Bishop San Pedro de Mezonzo rebuilt the temple in 1003 in pre-Romanesque style and the current cathedral was erected by 1075, at a time when pilgrimages enjoyed their heyday. It is also one of the only three known churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle of Jesus. However, the structure was completed under the direction of Domingo de Andrade in 1677. The king ordered the construction of a chapel on the site. It is located in the space previously occupied since the first half of the 15th century by the Chapel of Our Lady of Forgiveness, associated to Archbishop Lope de Mendoza. It is also known as the Chapel of Saint Bartholomew, due to the foundation established there by the canon Rodrguez de Sotomayor during the early years of the 16th century. [29], In 1833 a clock was placed on each side of the tower by Andrs Antelo, commissioned by the Archbishop Rafael de Vlez. After being completely destroyed by Muslims at the end of the 10th century, Santiago de Compostela was rebuilt in the following century. This faade has become a symbol of the cathedral and the city of Santiago de Compostela. The Galician word Botafumeiro means that lets out smoke and refers to the great thurible belonging to the Cathedral of Compostela. The archivolts are attached over eleven columns, three are of white marble (middle and corners) and the rest of granite. This Romanesque building, located at the east end of the Plaza del Obradoiro, has a Baroque west facade (the Obradoiro) built (1738-50) by Fernando Casas y Novoa. The works were commissioned to Master Esteban (also known as Maestro de Plateras); little by little the construction of the Cathedral progressed throughout the 12th century. Built by Master Mateo between 1103 and 1117, with the driving help of the first Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, Diego Gelmirez. But it was not until 1738 when Fernando de Casas demolished the ancient facade and began the works for the current one, characterised by its great openings and great decorative and iconographic wealth, where important Compostela artists from the period participated. [12], On both sides of the evangelists, behind Mark and Luke, there are four angels on each side with the instruments of the Passion of Christ. Both original bells cracked, forcing their replacement. It was built according to the same plan as the monastic brick church of . The Prtico da Gloria ("Portico of the Glory" in Galician) of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is a Romanesque portico by Master Mateo and his workshop commissioned by King Ferdinand II of Len. The latter is the main square and monumental centre of the city of Santiago de Compostela. The next Holy Year is the Jacobean 2021 which will last until the end of 2022 by papal order, due to the Covid pandemic. The balustrade on the left side depicts St. Susanna and St. John and the one on the right depicts St. Barbara and James the Less. Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. 00:15. It is currently included in the itinerary of the Cathedral Museum of Santiago, in the same way as several of its annex rooms, such as the Library, the Chapter Room or the Treasury and Chapel of Relics. Hostal de los Reyes Catlicos. [33][34], A dome above the crossing contains the pulley mechanism to swing the "Botafumeiro", which is a famous thurible found in this church. In its place, the tombstone of Bishop Teodomiro, a capital figure, has been placed, due to the fact that he was the one who "identified" the remains of the Apostle Santiago and communicated it to King Alfonso II, which started the entire Jacobean phenomenon. Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, 2020- Aviso Legal - Cookies- Privacidad, Chapel of Los Espaa or Our Lady La Blanca. The ensemble frames the stone image of the Seated Saint Jameswork by the atelier of Master Mateo during the first years of the 13th centurywearing a silver cloak, which the pilgrims and worshippers embraced hen accessing through the stairs located in the ambulatory. Up to ". It was built according to the same plan as the monastic brick church of Saint Sernin in Toulouse, probably the greatest Romanesque edifice in France. [3][4] According to legend, this tomb was rediscovered in AD 814 by Pelagius the Hermit, after he witnessed strange lights in the night sky. Front of Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia-Spain) in the Obradoiro Square. Also noteworthy are the scenes, placed without any apparent order, on the frieze and at the ends of the facade. In the center are the figures of twelve prophets and the Apostles on the sideline. The many chapels inside (18) of the Cathedral of Santiago respond to a typical design in the pilgrimage churches where thousands of pilgrims flock to it. This image is popularly known as Santo dos Croques[13] from the ancient tradition of students hitting their heads against the figure for wisdom, a tradition that was adopted later by pilgrims, although steps are being taken to limit access, to stem deterioration from which the work has suffered.