Exploring Santiago 1

After collecting my Compostela, I met up with my friend from Seattle, and we queued to get our timed tickets to see the Portico of Glory (which is inside the western facade of the cathedral).

We had a nearly an hour until our allotted time slot and so had time to do some souvenir shopping. We took coffee in the bar of the splendid Parador Hotel, probably the grandest and oldest hotel in all of Spain, inside the former Hostal dos Reis Católicos (Hospital of the Catholic Monarchs) built in the early 16th century as a hostelry and hospital for pilgrims.

After coffee we bumped into a Canadian friend from our albergue in Triacastela, who had just arrived in Santiago and it was lovely to celebrate with her. We also chatted to some Americans who were about to get the bus out to Sarria to start their Camino journeys.

It was then time for the Portico de la Gloria (Portico of Glory). The Portico is the sublimely ornate sculptured western entrance to the nave of the cathedral, featuring a vast array of individuals centred around the large figure of Christ the Redeemer, above a central column featuring St James. Although no longer possible in order protect the delicate stonework, pilgrims would traditionally enter the cathedral through the great west doors, approaching St James and the Portico of Glory on their knees and placing one hand on the bottom of the central column just below St James.

When it was finished in the early 13th century the portico formed the outer end of the nave, and initially didn’t include doors in each of the arches. Doors were fitted later and then the whole portico was enclosed by the new western facade built in the 18th century.

Photography wasn’t allowed when viewing the portico, but there are lots of close up photos and a description on the following link:
https://catedraldesantiago.es/visitaportico/en/…

After the portico, I joined the massive queue at a different entrance, in an attempt to go to the noon mass at the cathedral. However I was way too far back and the cathedral was full with about 60+ people in front of me in the line and a few hundred behind me!

I therefore had a wander around the historic centre of the city, and returned to the Praza do Obradoiro to soak up some more of the atmosphere of arriving pilgrims. I met a Spanish friend who I’d bumped into regularly over the last couple of weeks, and who had just then arrived. He said he’s walked the Camino more times than he can remember!

I’ll post separately about my visit inside the rest of the cathedral and when I finally got to mass!Okumaya devam et