Through its participation as exclusive sponsor in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Programme, the Fundación Pedro Barrié de la Maza has set itself the goal of opening up to society as a whole a multi-faceted, open cultural project that will make a definitive contribution to disseminating the importance of preserving major aspects of our cultural heritage such as the Portico of Glory. To this end the Foundation has organised this programme of guided tours, offered free of charge to groups of limited size for the duration of the project for the preventive conservation and restoration of the Portico of Glory.
The guided tour programme has to fit in with the preventive conservation and restoration work being done on the Portico of Glory, and therefore the schedule showing the days and times on which the tours will take place will be updated and extended as work progresses.
The tour starts in the Cathedral Crypt, where the Visitor Reception Centre is located, with the showing of a video about the Portico and the peculiarities and challenges the project for its restoration pose to experts. This same area contains the exhibition of the nineteen wooden replicas of the medieval musical instruments being played by the Elders of the Apocalypse in the central arch of the Portico.
Specialist guides will then lead the tour up the inner stairs of the Crypt to the inside of the Cathedral and from there to the Portico of Glory, where the group will climb the scaffolding to reach the tympanum, this being a unique opportunity to contemplate the most representative sculptural group of the whole building from a privileged perspective. The singular nature of the stonework and structure requires particular attention to be paid to aspects such as the safety of visitors, and it is therefore essential to obey all the safety instructions posted to this effect.
The guided tours of the Portico of Glory are free of charge.
Bookings can be made through this booking system or in person at the Visitor Reception
Centre in the Portico of Glory Crypt (Plaza del Obradoiro, Santiago de Compostela).
Bookings can be made for any available date, indicating the number of persons in the group and the language in which the commentary is to be given.
The Fundación Pedro Barrié de la Maza reserves the right to change the schedule and itinerary of tours in accordance with the requirements of preventive conservation and restoration work.
Visitors should arrive at the Visitor Reception Centre in the Portico of Glory
Crypt (Plaza del Obradoiro, Santiago de Compostela) TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TIME FOR THEIR TOUR. If a visitor fails to arrive in time the Foundation reserves the right to reassign his or her place once the tour has started.
Opening hours of the Visitor Reception Centre in the Portico of Glory Crypt (Plaza del Obradoiro, Santiago de Compostela):
- From October 1 to May 30, Monday to Saturday: 10.00-14.00; 15.00-18.30; Sunday
and Festive: 10.00-13.30
- From June 1 to September 30, Monday to Saturday: 10.00-14.00; 15.00-20.00; Sunday
and Festive: 10.00-14.00
- Closed all day: 1 and January 6, July 25, August 15 and December 25.
- Closed for the afternoon: Thursday and Good Friday, Shrove Tuesday, March 19,
November 1, 8, 24 and December 31.
- The visit includes climbing up the scaffolding in the Portico of Glory to a platform located 6 metres above floor level.
- Children under the age of 12 are not allowed on the scaffolding. Young people between the ages of 12 and 18 are only allowed on the scaffolding if accompanied by a responsible adult, and will be required to prove that they are 12 years of age or over.
- All objects (backpacks, cameras and video cameras, etc.) must be left in the left-luggage office provided for this purpose in the crypt.
- Because of the nature of the scaffolding, visitors MUST wear closed
heel-less footwear, preferably with rubber soles.
- People who suffer from vertigo or physical limitations that restrict their mobility are advised not to climb the scaffolding.