Sunday, September 13, 2026

11 September 2026 Santiago de Compostela: A Midnight Tour of the Cathedral

 


Our night time tour of the cathedral was scheduled to start at10:30 at night.  It was a guided tour in English. Thank goodness we have adjusted to the Spanish schedule and were able to stay awake all the way to midnight when the tour ended.  We took a cab up to the cathedral so we would know where to be to call another one to take us back to the hotel.  We walked around the square a bit, popped into a fancy hotel and then back out to the square.  We heard the sound of a band and walked over to find a dozen men in traditional garb playing their hearts out.  We had a great time listening to the music, but eventually our tour start time rolled around.  We loved the tour.  We tromped up and down stone steps, listened to a description of the original facade, toured the museum and got right into the alter area.  We were even able to hug the statue of St. James.  Then it was to the cloister where we heard the bells chime 12 times to tell everyone it was midnight.  We had a bit of an issue finding our way back home but once we found our way we decided to walk back.  So we got 2400 steps in on the 12th even before we got to bed.  



We got drpped off a few blocks away



We have arrived on the scene, only an hour to wait


Gorgeous in the twilight


Love the traditional outfits


A dozen band members and a raucous crowd made for a great time


A very delightful treat


They played under a portico and out of the wind


Traditional Bagpipes



Aye yi yi yi, my toes they have the blisters!


There is no doubt that this is an impressive cathedral


A fine sunset


Pazo di Raxio 


One of the fine buildings was turned  into a hotel


Fancy ast inside


Grand doorways


Gat a load of these door handles


We reported to the start of the tour 20 minutes before the tour started as requested


There were very limited opportunities to take pictures.  This is an example of they type of granite carvings found all throughout the interior


The circular opening used to be part of the exterior before one of the many upgrades to the cathedral


All the extra protrusions were probably to support the window that was originally here


We are on the top floor and the old exterior is to the right while the new exterior is to the left


The whole length of the church


Even though we were on the top floor, there was still a long way to go to the top


Big windows


We were only allowed to take pictures in this small area and we could see the alter way down there


Now I wish I would have brought my super zoom camera


This is just a section of the grand altar


We are now outside in the cloister


It was chilly and the  wind was bllowing


Gigantic bells!


The bell tower is getting a renovation


The sent us out a different door than the one we entered through.  We got a bit lost...


It is a whole different vibe at night


The signal for the maps was in and out but we finally found out way out




  It has been 4 years and 98 days since we began our Migration