Cathedral：The current building is a Romanesque structure with later Gothic and Baroque additions. The early chapel, built in the 9th century by order of King Alfonso II (791-842) to house the remains of the Apostle discovered in 814 AD, was erected in 829 AD on the same site of the old church of Antealtare and later was expanded. From the creation of this early chapel was born of the city. In 997 the early chapel was reduced to ashes by Almanzur. The construction of the present cathedral began in 1075 under the reign of Alfonso VI and with discontinuity was completed in 1122, but was only consecrated in 1128. The monumental fountain in front of the north portal was constructed in 1122. The cathedral was expanded and embellished with additions in the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
The plan of the cathedral is a Latin cross, with three naves and side chapels that runs around the perimeter. For example, the beautiful and endearing "Corticela Chapel" and the "Chapel of the Holy Spirit" founded in the 13th century, the "Chapel of the Communion or the Sacred Heart" built in the 15th century, the "Chapel of the Christ of Burgos" in the mid-seventeenth century.
The cathedral has three facades corresponding to the three squares, respectively in the west facade, the south facade and the north facade.
The west facade（the Obradoiro） is created as the main entrance of the cathedral. The current Baroque facade was completed in 1740, which replaced the early medieval one, with two large bell towers. The most important architecture within the west facade is the “Portico de la Gloria”, the Romanesque style door completed in 1188 by Master Mateo. The Portico de la Gloria is shaped with iconographic representation of the Apocalypse of John. It is structured into three round arches supported by thick piers with pilasters. The one on the left represents the Jewish people expected the arrival of Christ in the limbo of the just. The central one, has a tympanum and is divided by a central column, representing the glory as of the righteous, is chaired by the majestic figure of Christ in the tympanum, surrounded by the symbolic figures of the four evangelists. The central archivolt is decorated with the 24 elders with their music instruments. In the central pillar, it is the figure of St. James, and with the middle portion consists of columns adorned with statues of the Apostles as well as the lower part is formed by the bases of the columns, decorated with fantastic animals. Finally, the arch on the right refers to the unbelievers, which will be submitted to all men. Unfortunately, the 18th century Baroque air marred the Romanesque exterior originality.
The facade of the south (the Silversmiths) is almost in its original condition with two arched entrance. It is the only Romanesque facade preserved in the cathedral, which was built between 1103 and 1117 and during subsequent centuries have been adding some elements. Archivolts are over eleven columns attached, three are white marble (the middle and end) and the other granite. The relief in the tympanum of the left door Christ appears tempted by a group of demons, and also has other figures such as the creation of Adam. In the tympanum of the right door several scenes from the Passion of Christ and the adoration of the Magi appeared.
The current facade of the north (Azabachería) is a design in the Neoclassical style with Baroque elements built in the 18th century (1769). The original Romanesque portal in 1122 was demolished after a fire in 1758. Some sculptural pieces that survived were moved to the portal of the south. At the very top of the façade is statue of St. James of the 18th century, with two kings at his feet in prayer. In the center of the facade is the statue of Jesus Christ holding the chalice on the right hand and the cross on the left hand.
Besides these three facades, there are another two nice portals. One is the Royal gate in the Baroque style started in 1666 and finished in 1700. The Royal gate, framed with great Tuscan columns with two floors and a balustrade, has the large pinnacles, and it is the entrance for the royal family. The other is called holy door or door of forgiveness, and is closed to the stairs and only opens in certain days. Above the portal, there are three sculptures in the niches, dressed all in pilgrims, the middle one is Santiago. In the both sides of the lower body there are twenty figures of prophets and apostles.
The interior of the church preserves its original barrel-vaulted cruciform Romanesque style. The nave is covered by a barrel vault of a Romanesque origin, and the aisles by groin vaults. Every clustered pier is flanked by semi-columns. The two organs located in the central part of the upper reaches out to the main nave. They were manufactured in 1708 and 1712. The chapel of Pillar, as one example of the chapels, is formed in 1694 by the union of two ancient chapels. The altarpieces of the central image of the Virgen del Pilar is stone, and surrounded by four figures of Saints. The chapel has an octagonal dome with a lantern adorned with carvings of military and heraldic motifs. The painting of the walls of the chapel is the work in 1719.
Particularly should be mentioned is the swing of the "Botafumeiro" above the main altar located in the center of the Latin cross. It is created by the goldsmith Jose Losada in 1851 with a pulley mechanism to swing it. It is the largest censer in the world, weighing 80 kg and measuring 1.60 m in height. It is only used during certain important religious feasts and some pilgrims’ Masses, filled with 40 kg of charcoal and incense. Eight purple-robed tiraboleiros pull the ropes and bring it into a swinging motion of reaching almost the roof of the transept and dispensing thick clouds of incense.
圣雅各伯主教座堂：现今的教堂是罗马式风格外加晚期哥特式风格和巴洛克风格的建筑。这座早期小教堂建于第9世纪的829年，替代了原来的古老小教堂，用来供奉814年发现的圣雅各伯宗徒遗骸。稍后，又加以扩建。由这座小教堂诞生了如今的圣地亚哥德孔波斯特拉这座大城市。公元997年，阿拉伯人阿穆苏摧毁了这座小教堂。现今的建筑始建于公元1075年，断断续续直到1122年才基本完成，于1128年祝圣。教堂北门外的喷水泉建于1122年。教堂于15、16、17和18世纪多次扩建修缮。教堂设计是拉丁式十字形状，有三个殿堂和围绕周边的几个侧室小教堂。例如，“圣玛利亚小教堂”，“圣神小教堂”都是13世纪的建筑，“圣心小教堂”是15世纪的建筑，“布尔格斯基督小教堂”则是17世纪中叶的建筑。
教堂有三个前脸大门分别对应着三个广场：
西大门是教堂的正门。 现今的巴洛克风格前脸完工于1740年，替代了早期中世纪的前脸，有两个巨大的钟楼。最重要的艺术建筑是西边前脸正门内的“荣耀之门”，罗马式风格，由建筑大师马特奥完成于1188年。荣耀之门主要雕饰图案源自圣若望的《默示录》。它有三个半圆拱形门洞，由厚重的圆形门柱支撑。左边门洞的雕饰以在阴府灵薄狱中的犹太人期待基督的来临为主题。中间的门洞代表着光荣与胜利，由一个中间竖柱分开，上面是一个巨大的门楣。门楣中间是天国的基督，四周饰以四部福音书的象征图案（人，狮，牛，鹰），其上的穹窿则雕饰着手拿不同乐器的24位长老（《默示录》所记载）。中间竖柱上是圣雅各伯的雕像，两边门柱的同等高度上是宗徒们的雕像，门柱底部的柱墩上则雕饰着奇异的怪兽图案。右边门洞的雕饰以欢迎尚未信仰的人群为主题。可惜的是，18世纪的巴洛克风格雕饰多少破坏了原初的罗马式风格雕刻。
南大门基本保持着原来的建筑，由两个半圆拱形穹窿门洞组成。这是整个教堂唯一保留下来的罗马式风格建筑，建于公元1103-1117年，此后的年代又加入了一些雕刻。两个门洞由多个半圆拱形穹窿组成，其中的三个是白色大理石的，其它的是灰色花岗岩石的。左边门洞门楣上的浮雕图案是基督受诱惑、达味王、亚当等。右边门洞门楣上的浮雕是有关基督的图案，包括贤士来朝，基督受难等。
北大门是新古典主义风格外加巴洛克风格的建筑，建于18世纪的1769年。1122年建造的罗马式风格大门于1758年被大火烧毁。火灾中一些残存的雕刻被迁移到南大门了。北大门最高处是圣雅各伯雕像，18世纪的作品，脚下是两个正在祈祷的国王雕像。北面前脸的中间是耶稣基督雕像，右手拿着圣爵，右手拿着十字架。
在这三个前脸大门之外，还有两个小门值得驻足。一个是巴洛克风格的皇家大门，始建于1666年，完工于1700年。皇家大门由不同风格的扶壁和两个巨大贴墙图斯坎式圆柱构成，有两层，上层还有一个护栏，顶部是一个巨大的尖塔。这里曾是皇家人员专用大门。另外一个是免罪之门或圣门，靠近楼梯处，只在特定日期才打开。门洞之上的三个壁龛内有三个雕像，中间一个是圣雅各伯，另外两个是他的两个门徒，三人都是朝圣者的衣着打扮。门洞两边雕饰着24个半浮雕式雕像，应该是先知和宗徒们的雕像。
教堂内部保留了原初圆形穹顶的罗马式风格。殿堂由圆形平滑的罗马式穹顶覆盖，侧室部分则由圆形拱肋式穹顶覆盖。殿堂中的每一个圆形支柱都有多个小的半圆形扶壁圆柱组合而成。两个大型管风琴被安置在十字形殿堂的中心点位置，半空中凌空而出，深入到殿堂的中间。两个大型管风琴分别建造于1708和1712年。以圆柱圣母侧室小教堂为例，可以看到这些侧室小教堂的精美绝伦。圆柱圣母小教堂在1694年由两个古老的侧室小教堂合并而成。其祭台后方装饰中间的圆柱圣母是石雕，周边由四个圣人的雕像环绕。这个小教堂的穹顶是八面体的，其上雕饰着诸多的兵器和徽章。小教堂内的绘画是1719年的作品。
特别值得提及的，是十字形教堂中心点主祭台上方的大香炉。大香炉由金匠罗萨达于1851年铸造，用机械装置来摆动香炉。这是世界上最大的香炉，重80公斤，高1.6米。大香炉需要填充进40公斤的木炭和乳香，只在教会的特别节日和某些朝圣者弥撒中使用。它要由8位身着紫色长袍的男子拉动机械装置，使大香炉摆动到几乎贴近殿堂的屋顶，焚烧的乳香在香雾缭绕中散发出浓郁的芬芳，充满整个教堂的大殿！
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