Glory's Portico, Romanesque portico at Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Glory's Portico is a Romanesque church portal at the western entrance to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, spanning three large rounded arches. The stone figures show prophets, apostles, and heavenly beings on both sides of the openings.
Ferdinand II of León commissioned the architect Mateo to build the structure between 1168 and 1188 as the crowning entrance to the cathedral. The completion marked the end of decades of construction and was recorded through carved inscriptions.
The name refers to an Old Testament hymn of praise that runs through the entire structure. Visitors today can recognize the medieval vision of heaven as a place filled with music and singing, shown through stone musicians holding their instruments.
Visitors must book entrance tickets online in advance, as the number of guests per day is limited. Daily opening hours allow several time slots from morning until evening.
At the base of the central column, a small kneeling figure represents the architect Mateo himself, with the word Architectus on a sign. Visitors have followed the tradition of touching the fingers of the figure for centuries, leaving deep grooves in the stone.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
