One of the most well known cathedrals of the world

The cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the milestone for pilgrims who follow the way of Saint James, El Camino de Santiago. The interior of the cathedral was built in 1077 (Alfonso the VII) and, therefore, the plant is romanesque. The baroque structure was started in the XVII century. The south portal is the only romanesque entrance and it dates from the XI century.
The famous Pórtico de la Gloria of Master Mateo, in the west entrance, it is considered a masterpiece of architecture. Master Mateo finished it in 1088.
The main facade is called Obradoio which means “goldsmith's workshop” because the facade was worked very artistic and in great detail by stonecutters at the begining of the XVIII century.
The first construction was a chapel, during the kingdom of Alfonso II from 791 to 842. The church at that time was destructed by fights against muslims and peasant's uprisings. The overall cathedral's surface is up to 23.000 square meters.
The grave of the apostle Santiago is under the main alter in the east side of the cathedral. About the incense pot, “Botafumeiro” in galician, was spoken for the first time in the XIV century, and it was thought to praise for the gods or to cover up, originally, the body odour of pilgrims. Nowadays, it hangs at the end of a 30 meters long rope and it is swung sometimes, nobody knows exactly when, by eight men, swinging it through the central nave and reaching almost the ceiling. It is an event to live, reserved only for the lucky ones!. The old incense chalice is 1,60 meter high and weights 80 kg and it is no more swung.