7 Beautiful Camino de Santiago Cathedrals, Chapels, and Hidden Gems
Towering Cathedrals. Painted Stained Glass Windows. Tiny chapels on the hillsides. There are so many incredible Camino de Santiago Cathedrals and churches found on the numerous Camino de Santiago routes. Some of them are found along the pathways, while others require a detour.
The Camino de Santiago is the beloved pilgrimage route that traverses Europe. During the Middle Ages, pilgrims would follow the Way of St. James marked by the many churches along the way.
While the modern routes may be altered from the ancient pathways, the mighty churches and cathedrals still stand and leave us in awe.
These were some of the most memorable cathedrals and churches on the numerous Camino de Santiago routes.
Table of Contents
- Impressive Camino de Santiago Cathedrals
- Beautiful Monasteries & Sanctuaries on the Camino de Santiago
- Conclusion | Memorable Cathedrals on the Camino de Santiago
Impressive Camino de Santiago Cathedrals
These are some of my favorite Cathedrals spread across the many Camino de Santiago routes.
While some churches are free to enter, some do require an entrance fee.
If walking the Camino de Santiago, make sure to bring your Credencial, or pilgrim passport. All the churches and cathedrals have stamps and some offer discounts for pilgrims with credencials.
1 | Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela
- Location: Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Camino de Santiago Route: All roads lead to the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela
- Why it’s so Special: It’s the final ending point for all the Camino de Santiago routes
- Entrance Fee: It’s free to enter the main Cathedral and attend one of the many pilgrim mass services throughout the day
- Explore Deeper: Guided Tour Cathedral tickets included with Optional Portico
The Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela is the most important Cathedral on any of the Camino de Santiago routes. All roads lead to Santiago de Compostela, to the energetic Praza do Obradoiro. The entire Old Town of Santiago de Compostela is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Pilgrims walk for days, months, or years to stand in front of the grand Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela. It is said that the Apostle of Saint James’s relics are buried beneath the Cathedral.
The story goes that a hermit named Paio saw a bright light in the sky which led him to the tomb of Saint James. King Alfonso II of Asturias took the trek from Oviedo to verify the relics himself and became the first pilgrim on the Primitivo Way.
A church was ordered to be built on the spot where the relics were found. Although the architecture has changed throughout the years, what we see today is mostly Baroque after a large remodel during the 18th century,
Pilgrims have been walking since the Middle Ages to pay their respects and devotion to Saint James. Another reason was to clean the soul. Those accused of crimes or theft could also be absolved of their sins if they walked the Way of Saint James. Some sought out healing along the way, much like modern-day pilgrims.
Today, the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela marks the end of the road for pilgrims walking the Way of Saint James. This is where they received their official Compostela for completing the journey.
There are so many incredible things to do in Santiago de Compostela that it’s worth spending a night or two in this iconic Galician city. From Santiago de Compostela it’s easy to explore nearby attractions and sights on numerous day trips.
Alternatively, rent a car to explore deeper the unmissable region of Galicia.
2 | León Cathedral (Pulchara Leonina)
- Location: León Spain
- Camino de Santiago Route: Camino Frances
- Why it’s so Special: 125 colorful stained glass windows
- Entrance Fee: €7 for the Cathedral and €5 for the Museum
- No Pilgrim Discount with Credencial
The city of León has deep connections to the Camino de Santiago. In fact, the city of León is the third most popular starting point for the Camino Frances. Three important buildings connected to the Camino de Santiago in León include the San Marcos Convent, the Basilica of San Isidoro, and the Catedral de León.
By far one of the most memorable cathedrals on the Camino Frances is the Pulchara Leonina in the heart of the Old Town. The stunning León Cathedral boasts 125 beautiful stained glass windows that show the story of saints and stories of the New Testament in the Bible.
The church is a delight to spend some time reflecting in one of the pews, especially when the windows are enhanced on a sunny day.
The León city sign is on the corner of the Plaza de Regla, making it an ideal place to snap a photo with the Cathedral towering in the backdrop.
Don’t miss the Basílica de San Isidoro, which also complements the León Cathedral. The Museum of San Isidoro is worth visiting and houses numerous relics and jewels. By far the most incredible thing to see is the Pantheón Real, an ancient chapel that was built during the 11th century. On the ceiling find original and beautiful frescos that are nicknamed the “Romanesque Sistine Chapel” of Spain.
Museo de Sa Isidoro | Entrance Fee: €5, no pilgrim discount | Will stow bags while visiting | Official Website
Pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago opt to sleep an extra night in León and take a rest day to relax and savor the city. Others may choose to divert off the Camino Frances route and on the Camino de San Salvador route.
3 | Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba
- Location: Cordoba Spain
- Camino de Santiago Route: Camino Mozárabe
- Why it’s so Special: A living example of Moorish and Catholic cultures
- Entrance Fee: €13.00 for the Cathedral and €3 to climb the Bell Tower
- Explore Deeper: With so much history, a guided tour is recommended. This tour hits the highlights of Cordoba: Mosque, Cathedral, Alcazar & Synagogue with Skip the Line Tickets
The Mezquita of Cordoba is a mixture of many cultures found in Cordoba. Built as an impressive Mosque during the 8th century, the building structures remain well preserved. Cordoba thrived as a cultural capital for Islam, a period that lasted almost 500 years.
During these glory years, there was religious tolerance and acceptance of people to practice Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Islam was the dominating religion and over 20,000 could pray inside the Mezquita.
The Mezquita was built on top of an ancient Visigoth church, and before that, the Romans ruled here.
During the 13th century, the city was conquered by Christians. A church was built on top of the mosque, but they simply utilized the beauty of the Mosque. Surprisingly, almost 70% of the mosque can be seen today.
The Mezquita and Old Town of Cordoba are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites where it’s possible to see the marks of Roman, Visigoth, Islam, Judaism, and Christian cultures.
There are multiple ways to appreciate the Mequita. The Patio de los Naranjos is free to wander. Tour the interior of the building or climb up the Bell Tower. By far the Mihrab (equivalent to an alter) is unmissable. The Mezquita is one of the most significant religious structures in Spain.
➜ Browse all the best places to stay in Cordoba
4 | Cathedral of Santa María de la Asunción of Tui
- Location: Tuí Spain
- Camino de Santiago Route: Camino Portugués
- Why it’s so Special: The Gothic-style West Door and Medieval Cloister
- Entrance Fee: €5
The Tui Cathedral is beautiful and was built during the 12th Century. The Cathedral offers stellar views of the Miño River, which separates Tui from Valenca Portugal.
One of the most notable features of the Tui Cathedral is the main door called the West Door. The facade tells the story of the church and was completed around 1225. While the exterior looks more like a fortress, the interior is full of surprises.
The wood altarpieces are beautiful and the church has lots of rich artworks. The Cloister claims to be the oldest in Galicia. Don’t miss the viewpoint from the garden with river views and Valenca.
Tui is a fantastic medieval village with cobblestone streets and a deep history with the Camino de Santiago. Many pilgrims start their Camino Portuguese from Tui and sleep here the night before departing on their journey.
5 | Salamanca Cathedral
- Location: Salamanca Spain
- Camino de Santiago Route: Via de la Plata
- Why it’s so Special: It’s two Cathedrals in one (and the astronaut)
- Entrance Fee: €10
The Salamanca Cathedral is impressive on the outside. It’s one of the largest Cathedrals in Spain, yet it remains off the main tourist path.
The Salamanca Cathedral consists of the New Cathedral (built during the 16th to 18th centuries) and the Old Cathedral (built during the 12th to 15th centuries). The Old Cathedral is also referred to as Santa Maria de la Sede.
Maybe one of the quirkiest things about the Salamanca Cathedral is the astronaut who was a new addition during restoration work in 1993. Find him near the entrance door… or you can just follow the crowd.
The Salamanca Cathedral has a beautiful dome. It just makes this cathedral feel grand.
In the New Cathedral, the architectural design is Gothic and Baroque. The wooden choir is elaborately carved and the pipe organ stands out. Oftentimes there is live music in the choir, but unfortunately, there wasn’t any on the day I visited.
The Old Cathedral is Romanesque by design and has an intricate main altarpiece. One of the more interesting rooms is the Chapel of San Martín with its colorful mural paintings.
➜ Browse all the best places to stay in Salamanca
6 | Cathedral San Salvador of Oviedo
- Location: Oviedo Spain
- Camino de Santiago Route: Camino de San Salvador / Camino Primitivo
- Why it’s so Special: It’s home to the Holy Shroud in the Holy Chamber
- Entrance Fee: €7
- €4 for Pilgrims with a Credencial
- Free Entrance for Pilgrims that Walked the Camino de San Salvador
The San Salvador Cathedral in Oviedo has deep roots in the Camino de Santiago. The original chapel was built in the Pre-Romanesque architecture starting in 796. The church remained in this style until the end of the 14th century.
Even during the Middle Ages, the San Salvador Cathedral was an important stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago. King Alfonso II ordered the Pre-Romanesque Holy Chapel to be built to house one of the most important relics, the Holy Shroud. This piece of cloth was said to cover the face of Jesus after his crucifixion.
King Alfonso II is coined with the famous saying: “He who goes to Santiago and not to the Savior, visits the servant and not the Lord.” This shows how significant Oviedo and the Cathedral of San Salvador were for pilgrims making the long journey to Santiago de Compostela.
The walls are lined with sculptures of the Apostles and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The modern church is a mixture of Gothic and Baroque styles.
Pilgrims can detour from the Camino Frances to Oviedo via the Camino de San Salvador. The Cathedral can issue pilgrims the Salvadorana Certificate for completing the route, which allows free access to the tour of the Cathedral.
The Camino Primitivo starts from Oviedo. This is said to be the first Camino de Santiago route that Alfonso II walked to verify the relics found in the meadows were the Apostle Saint James.
The San Salvador Cathedral is one of the most important Camino de Santiago Cathedrals.
Beautiful Camino de Santiago Monasteries & Sanctuaries
These are incredible Monasteries and Sanctuaries found along numerous Camino de Santiago routes that are worth a stop.
7 | Monasteries of Yuso & Suso San Millan de la Cogolla
- Location: San Millan de la Cogolla Spain
- Camino de Santiago Route:
- Why it’s so Special: This may be the “cradle of the Spanish language”
- Entrance Fee: €7 for Yuso Monastery & €4 for Suso Monastery (includes bus ride)
- Pilgrim Discount: €4 for Yuso Monastery & €3.25 for Suso Monastery (includes bus ride)
Although not directly on the Camino Frances, the Yuso & Suso Monasteries located in San Millan de la Cogolla are definitely worth a detour. The best part is that it can be walked on the Camino Real, or it can be reached by public bus.
The detour comes just after the village of Najera and passes by cliffs and the countryside of the La Rioja region. To me, the walk is what makes these monasteries even more special.
The Monasteries of Yuso and Suso are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are found in the tiny hamlet of San Millan de la Cogolla. The only way to visit both sites is as part of a guided tour. Tours are in Spanish, but there are English plaque boards found throughout.
Pilgrims will have to plan accordingly as the hours for each Monastery are different. There are also two different entrance tickets, one for the Yuso Monastery and another for the Susos Monastery. The Suso Monastery must be reached via the bus provided with the ticket purchase.
Don’t forget your Credencial as there is a stamp and pilgrim discount!
The Yuso Monastery is the larger monastery that houses relics, one being a replica of the Glosas Emilianenses. The Gloas Emilianenses are the first-ever known writings in Castilian Spanish. Another impressive thing to see at the Yuso Monastery is the massive Gregorian Chant books.
The hilltop and much smaller Suso Monastery is extremely important. This monastery is old and was said to be built during the 6th century. Monks lived in solitude in the cave systems that made up the Suso Monastery.
It was here in these caves that it is said that the first Spanish writings in Castillian were written. For this reason, it is said that San Millan de la Cogolla is considered to be the “cradle of the Spanish language” as we know it today.
There is a very special energy at the Suso Monastery. It is something you have to feel to experience. It’s as if you can feel that this site is sacred and “old.” In fact, the Suso Monastery is home to the oldest altar in Spain.
Both of the Monasteries in San Millan de la Cogolla are worth visiting. This detour remains one of my favorite days on the Camino Frances. Not only for the rich history and beautiful Monasteries nestled in the valley but for the journey that it took to reach it.
It is also possible to sleep at the Yuso Monastery at the Hostería del Monasterio de San Millan.
eir powerful Camino journey.
Conclusion | Beautiful Cathedrals and Monasteries of the Camino de Santiago
These are some of my favorite Camino de Santiago Cathedral, Churches, Chapels, and hidden gems.
There are endless churches and sacred places to visit along the Camino de Santiago routes. While the Camino de Santiago Cathedrals are jaw-dropping and filled with rich history and arts, sometimes the tiny chapels offer up the most moving experiences along the way
For me, the grandest Cathedral along the Camino are the mountains, river valleys, and enchanted forests. There really is no better way to feel connected to it all than to be in the present moment.
Did you have a Cathedral or Church on the Camino de Santiago that you loved and I’m missing? It was so hard to narrow it down, but these places seem to be embedded with good memories in my mind. Let me know in the comments below!
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