Church · Christian
Santiago de Compostela
Galicia, Spain
UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 1985)
Church · Christian
Galicia, Spain
Santiago de Compostela's cathedral is the traditional resting place of the relics of St. James the Apostle, and the destination of the Camino de Santiago, one of Christianity's most famous pilgrimage routes.
Pilgrims have walked the Camino de Santiago for over a thousand years to reach the cathedral, which holds what tradition venerates as the remains of the apostle James.
The cathedral's construction began in 1075, on a site associated with the discovery of the apostle's relics in the 9th century, and the pilgrimage route has been in continuous use since the medieval period.
The Camino is walked year-round, though May–June and September are the most popular months, balancing manageable crowds with good weather.