Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Santiago de Compostela Cathedral) Overview
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. 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.
Contact Addresses Comision de Cultura, Praza das Praterias s/n, 15704 Santiago de Compostela, Spain Tel: (0981) 583 548 Website: www.archicompostela.org
Transportation Air: Madrid Barajas Airport, Santiago de Compostela Lavacolla International Airport. Rail: Train: Horreo Station, Santiago de Compostela. Road: Coach: Public services. Car: A52 (from Madrid); A9 (from La Coruna or Ferrol); N-VI, then A9 (from Madrid).
