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The sanctuary would have to be worthy of the renown Compostela
had won among Christendom. It was built on the ruins of
a church constructed by Alfonso III that was destroyed by
Almanzor in 997. By 1122 the structure was completed, except
for the Porch of the Gloria that was not finished until
the late 12th century.
Santiago´s Cathedral is basically
Romanesque, even though it has some Gothic and Baroque elements.
Its singularity lies on three important aspects: an space
for the circulation of people -essential in a church visited
by pilgrims-, its architectural innovations and its being
a compendium of Pre-romanesque Style.
The Cathedral is cross-shaped and has 3
naves. The apse aisle contains 5 apse chapels and each extreme
has 2 apses. The distribution was conceived for the pilgrims
to pass round Apostle Santiago´s Tomb, located in
the apse aisle. Another important element is the triforium,
of great dimensions, that served as shelter for pilgrims
and as a meeting place for the pious people.
On its construction a diversity of styles were used , so
that it became a compendium: Pre-Romanesque, Spanish and
French Romanesque and Muslim-Andalucian...
Compostela´s Cathedral also introduced
some architectural innovations, such as its proportions
-almost 100 meters high, lateral naves 5 meters high and
the central nave 10 meters high- and the relations between
the measures of its parts. Innovative is also the upper
part of the archs.
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