Museum of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

The Museum of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela offers visitors an in-depth look into the cathedral’s history and art. Located in the western part of the cathedral’s cloister, the museum houses a diverse collection, including archaeological artifacts, sculptures, paintings, tapestries, and liturgical clothing. Notably, it features tapestries designed by renowned artists such as Goya, Rubens, and Teniers. The museum also provides access to the Pórtico de la Gloria, a masterpiece of Romanesque art, and offers panoramic views of the city from the cathedral’s rooftops. Temporary exhibitions and educational programs are regularly organized to enhance the visitor experience.

Planning your visit

The Cathedral Museum in Santiago de Compostela covers the building that has drawn pilgrims across Europe for over a thousand years, and its collection reflects that accumulation: archaeological material from the Roman necropolis beneath, Romanesque and Gothic sculpture, liturgical objects, and tapestries woven from designs by Goya, Rubens and Teniers.

The essential element is the Pórtico de la Gloria — Master Mateo's Romanesque portal of 1188, once the cathedral's west front, now enclosed within the building. It holds over 200 figures, the apostles carved with individual expressions and the elders of the Apocalypse tuning their instruments, and a decade-long restoration removed centuries of grime and repainting to reveal the original polychrome colour. Access is limited and separately managed, so booking specifically for it matters if it is what you have come for.

The rooftop tour is the other draw, walking the granite tiles above the nave with views over the old town and the pilgrims arriving in the Obradoiro square below.

Bookable options include museum tours with Pórtico de la Gloria options, and combined city walking tours with cathedral museum entry. Current availability is listed below.