Santiago Cathedral

One of the most important religious monuments in the world

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About the book Santiago Cathedral

This book published by Dosde closely analyses by means of texts, photographs and illustrations the historical evolution and the architectonic peculiarities of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, an ensemble declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in which devotion, art and architecture blend perfectly together to create a major pilgrimage centre.

This book on Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela provides a better and indepth understanding of this emblematic work of religious architecture, at the same time as it brings the reader closer to the world of pilgrimage through the analysis of its main icon. The book forms part of the Architectural Series and has been published in the Deluxe Edition. A luxurious book that stands out for the excellent quality, large-sized photographs where every detail of the monument can be fully appreciated.

This deluxe book on Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela has been devised as a consultation book, an essential reference book for any library. Its pages includes a large volume of information and fascinating facts, as well as 3D illustrations carried out exclusively for this book, one of the most comprehensive works that have been published on Santiago Cathedral.

Deluxe Edition

Santiago Cathedral

  • It includes exclusive digital content
  • Made with environmentally friendly paper
  • Official licensed product
  • "Premio Clap" Best Design category

About the book Santiago Cathedral

This book published by Dosde closely analyses by means of texts, photographs and illustrations the historical evolution and the architectonic peculiarities of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, an ensemble declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in which devotion, art and architecture blend perfectly together to create a major pilgrimage centre.

This book on Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela provides a better and indepth understanding of this emblematic work of religious architecture, at the same time as it brings the reader closer to the world of pilgrimage through the analysis of its main icon. The book forms part of the Architectural Series and has been published in the Deluxe Edition. A luxurious book that stands out for the excellent quality, large-sized photographs where every detail of the monument can be fully appreciated.

This deluxe book on Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela has been devised as a consultation book, an essential reference book for any library. Its pages includes a large volume of information and fascinating facts, as well as 3D illustrations carried out exclusively for this book, one of the most comprehensive works that have been published on Santiago Cathedral.

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Readers opinions
(4)

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Reviews
(4)

Agustín Cerrejón (Espagne)
Agustín Cerrejón (Espagne)
Excellent information and photographs
Roberta Clon (Italy)
Roberta Clon (Italy)
A beautifully edited work, very complete with great attention to detail.
Manuel Bustos (Spain)
Manuel Bustos (Spain)
Great guide to the cathedral. Good photographs, very complete infographics and very useful illustrations. It is an excellent book that is well worth the purchase.
Benjamin Fernandez (Spain)
Benjamin Fernandez (Spain)
Great books, they lack nothing!

Readers opinions
(4)

Agustín Cerrejón (Espagne)
Agustín Cerrejón (Espagne)
Excellent information and photographs
Roberta Clon (Italy)
Roberta Clon (Italy)
A beautifully edited work, very complete with great attention to detail.

Additional Information

  • Additional Information
  • Subtitle: One of the most important religious monuments in the world
  • Weight (g): 1095
  • Binding: Hard cover
  • Size (cm): 26,5 x 26,5
  • Author: Dosde
  • Pages: 0
  • Edition: Deluxe Edition
  • language
  • German
  • English
  • Spanish
  • French
  • isbn
  • 978-84-9103-063-8
  • 978-84-9103-061-4
  • 978-84-9103-060-7
  • 978-84-9103-062-1
  • sku
  • 25-009-04
  • 25-009-01
  • 25-009-00
  • 25-009-02

History of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Home to the relics of James the Apostle, one of the most important figures of Christianity, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is considered a masterpiece of religious architecture, both for its structure, which combines functionalism and symbolism, as well as for its formal variety, a reflection of the temple's more than eight century history.

The construction of Santiago Cathedral was started in the Middle Ages in accordance with the canons of Romanesque architecture, but the successive refurbishments meant that Renaissance, Baroque and Neo-Classical elements could be incorporated. This stylistic fusion added to the singularity of the temple, which from its foundation converted into one of the world's main pilgrimage destinations. At present, the cathedral continues to be one of the landmark temples of Christianity. Every year, the cathedral site is visited by tens of thousands of people, which include both pilgrims and art and architecture lovers.

Architecture of the Cathedral of Santiago

The final destination in the pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago or the Way of Saint James, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is a milestone in religious architecture (despite its design having a number of constraints due to its need to accommodate large numbers of worshippers), both for its interior organisation, which makes the constant stream of pilgrims possible without the interruption of liturgical acts, the narrowness of its elevation, its harmonious proportions and the integration of the numerous decorative elements in an ensemble that is a monumental representation of the apostle's glory.

Designed to create an intimate atmosphere, the interior of the church (whose naves extend into the ambulatory, allowing pilgrims to move around the cathedral without interruption to any religious services) responds to a symbolic scheme, widely used in medieval religious architecture, of a transitional space between the earthly, represented by the three portals of the temple, and the heavenly, with the high altar indicating the location of the apostle's remains.

The architects of the Cathedral

The cathedral's construction began in 1075 under the management of masterbuilder Bernardo el Viejo and his assistant Galperinus Robertus, who managed a team of around fifty stonemasons. With Master Esteban a second phase of work started on the ambulatory and the transept, while in 1095 the temple’s great developer, Diego Gelmírez, gave the final impetus to the cathedral, whose western section was built by Master Mateo from 1168.

Between the 17th and 18th centuries there was a major baroque style refurbishment of the cathedral. During this period, architects José Peña de Toro and Domingo de Andrade erected the uniform enclosure of the chevet, while Fernando Casas de Novoa planned the Obradoiro, Santiago Cathedral's most important façade.

What to visit in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Any visit around the cathedral starts outside the temple. From the original Romanesque project the south portal (Platerías) remains visible, though refurbished, as well as the layout of the towers on the west façade (Obradoiro). It is on this second façade where the Baroque influence is more evident, which was the main style used on the temple's exterior following the 17th and 18th century remodeling plan, which also affected the termination of the chevet, the Clocktower and the Azabachería Façade.

Behind the Obradoiro façade is the Glory Portico, planned in the 12th century by masterbuilder Mateo to adorn the western side of the temple. The sculptural decoration of this architectonic ensemble stands out for its rich symbolic load, as well as for its original style, which moves away from the Romanesque style to anticipate features typical of the Gothic.

As for the inside of the cathedral, it boasts numerous chapels of interest, though the most important element is the high altar, which is above the mausoleum that contains the apostle's relics, the genesis of the history of Santiago de Compostela. The visit to the cathedral ensemble can be completed with the cloister, a space with Gothic and Renaissance elements which now acts as the headquarters to the Museo Catedral, the institution responsible for conserving the heritage accumulated by the temple over time.