Something of a disappointment on our visit. The interior was full of scaffolding and plastic sheeting - renovation work was under way. Most of the interior photographs below are from various sources.
Building of the present cathedral began in 1075. Building continued; consecration finally happened in 1211. It is an extraordinarily complex building with a facade and plaza on all four sides. The 'Portico of Glory' was originally external, but the west facade (in the photographs below) was built in front of it.
We joined the queue to visit the crypt to see the silver reliquary holding the relics of St James. As so often happens, the bones were lost for many years. They were hidden in a safe place in the 16th century because of incursions by the English and the Dutch, and the authorities forgot where they had put them. They were rediscovered in 1879.
The Holy Door (Porta Santa) only opened in Jubilee years
The Portico of Glory
The shrine of St James in the crypt
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