22 October 2023
It's been a cool damp day in Santiago.
The highlights of today were a visit to the Pórtico de la Gloria - the Portico of Glory - and a tour of the cathedral rooftop. Both were fantastic.
The Portico of Glory was designed by Master Mateo, a sculptor and architect, who worked in medieval Iberian Christian kingdoms of the second half of the 12th century.
The portico was created in Master Mateo's stonemason's workshop between 1168 and 1211.
Restoration work on the portico was carried out between 2008 and 2018, and is open for viewing by ticket only.
The craftsmanship and detail of all the figures and creatures in the pieces is phenomenal. We spent so long looking at and absorbing every feature of this glorious entrance piece that greeted pilgrims of old - it is no longer the entrance to the cathedral, a side entrance is now used.
Photos and videos of the portico weren't allowed.
The rooftop tour was amazing. We literally walked all over the cathedral roof, looking down and out over the city of Santiago.
It rained just before we went up on the roof which added to the feeling that it would be easy to slip. The height and slopes of the roof affected me, making me almost lose my balance, but Jeff was fine. We also climbed up into one of front towers and looked down to where we had been walking on the roof.
There were so many steps - up and around, then down again. They made me think of the Hakarimata Steps.
The tickets for the 2 tours gave us free entrance to the cathedral museum. That was also worth seeing.
Samples of the figures in the portico in the brochure we were given:
A few photos of stonework of the time:
