• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
  • ⚠️ Emergency contact in Spain - Dial 112 and AlertCops app. More on this here.
This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

T

tomlynum

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
May 21, 2022
We are getting conflicting information on the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. Is the cathedral open? Are pilgrims masses being held there? What day(s) will the Botafumerio take place?
 
Promote your Camino Project on the forum
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
It IS open. Pilgrim masses ARE taking place there. The Botafumeiro schedule varies depending upon Church Holy Days and if someone has sponsored it, so you will not know until it happens if it’s not a special day for the Catholic community.
 
Everything is pretty much back to normal except contrary to Spanish law you have to wear a mask in the cathedral and pilgrim office. It should take 20 minutes to get your compostela, unlike the come back tomorrow last year.
 
Altus ANDES 400 H30 sleeping bag
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
tomlynum said:
We are getting conflicting information on the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. Is the cathedral open? Are pilgrims masses being held there? What day(s) will the Botafumerio take place?
Click to expand...
The Cathedral is open , you have to wear a mask inside.
There are 4 Masses every day , 07.30 , 09.30 , 12.00 and at 19.30 .
About the Botafumeiro go to Mas and let your self surprise
 
Richard of York said:
Everything is pretty much back to normal except contrary to Spanish law you have to wear a mask in the cathedral and pilgrim office. It should take 20 minutes to get your compostela, unlike the come back tomorrow last year.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure that's contrary to Spanish law. Private places can set their own rules.
 
trecile said:
I'm not sure that's contrary to Spanish law. Private places can set their own rules.
Click to expand...
Of course it is not contrary to Spanish law!

And also, the security staff announces it dozen of times inside the Cathedral: Wear facemasks that cover nose and mouth, take your hat or cap off when you are a man, do not use a flash to take pictures with your camera or mobile phone, do not use your camera or mobile phone during pilgrim mass, leave the Cathedral while mass is ongoing and you do not participate, be quiet while visiting and walking around because you are in a church.

You can listen yourself to it. They have now live streaming of the pilgrim masses throughout the day:

Retransmisión en directo | Catedral de Santiago

catedraldesantiago.es
 
Lightfoot Guide to via Francigena
The 9th edition the Lightfoot Guide will let you complete the journey your way.
trecile said:
Private places can set their own rules.
Click to expand...
I don't know whether there is a difference between Anglo-Saxon derived law and European-Continental derived law. I do know that in at least some European countries churches have a proprietor's right that allows them to stipulate a few things that visitors have to comply with, and Spain is one of them. Of course, they are usually open and supertolerant and compassionate but they could throw you out or not let you in and they would be within their legal rights to do so. So, that may be a popular issue for debate elsewhere but not in Spain and in order to avoid disappointment as the saying goes, here's the information from the Cathedral of Santiago themselves:

 
Last edited:
Richard of York said:
It should take 20 minutes to get your compostela, unlike the come back tomorrow last year.
Click to expand...
Maybe, maybe not. There are a variety of experiences being reported. Those of us who are not there should refrain from offering our impressions from a distance, because what do we know? Nada. Just perceptions.
 
VNwalking said:
Maybe, maybe not. There are a variety of experiences being reported. Those of us who are not there should refrain from offering our impressions from a distance, because what do we know? Nada. Just perceptions.
Click to expand...
The last few weeks the waiting time ranged from less than one minute to longer than an hour.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
We just got our Compostela about a half hour ago. From entry to exit took about 25-30 minutes, and 5 of those minutes were me searching my backpack for the credential I started with. The one I ended with was enough for the Compostela, but not for the distance certificate.
 
VNwalking said:
Maybe, maybe not. There are a variety of experiences being reported. Those of us who are not there should refrain from offering our impressions from a distance, because what do we know? Nada. Just perceptions.
Click to expand...
It took me 20 minutes when I completed the Portuguese a week or so ago, and others in my group did it faster. I'll be finishing the Inglés on Monday, so I'll share my experience then.
 
Camino Ready, Backpacks, Boots etc
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
Sure, pilgrims should not go to pilgrim mass at the Cathedral of Santiago just to watch the botafumeiro swing. But the advice to just let themselves by surprised (or not) is easier given by those who have seen it in action not only once but several times already.

It has already been mentioned that there are four misa del peregrino every day: at 7:30, 9:30, 12:00 and 19:30. Having watched a few times in recent days in live streaming, I can say that it can swing at any time, even at 9:30. Mass at 12:00 and 19:30 is more likely an occasion for observing it but it is no guarantee, not even in this Holy Year where presumably more parochial groups travel to Santiago than in normal years as well as individuals who are also willing to donate a considerable sum to set this big censer in action.

Some of the feast days are coming up when the botafumeiro will swing as part of a Solemn Mass. From the Cathedral's website:
  • Lunes 23 de mayo – Fiesta de Clavijo. A las 19:30 h. Misa capitular. Funcionamiento del Botafumeiro.

  • Domingo 29 de mayo- Ascensión del Señor. A las 11:40 h. Procesión del Cabildo y Misa solemne presidida por el Arzobispo. Funcionamiento del Botafumeiro.

  • Domingo 5 de junio – Pentecostés. A las 11:40 h. Procesión del cabildo y Misa solemne, presidida por el Arzobispo. Funcionamiento del Botafumeiro.
BTW, taking photos and videos of the swinging botafumeiro are apparent tolerated. However, at the beginning of EVERY pilgrim mass, an announcement is made that says: The use of cameras and mobile phones is forbidden. It is Mass, after all, from beginning to end.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Camino Photo

Most read last week in this forum

Similar threads

B
Cathedral Santiago de Compostela Open?
Replies
13
Views
2K
gloria lowe
  • Tags cathedral
    • My Santiago de Compostela interlude
    Replies
    1
    Views
    1K
    donalomahony
    C
  • Tags cathedral
    • Entry to the Cathedral
    Replies
    70
    Views
    4K
    DennisJ
    D
    Menu
    Log in
    Register