Santiago de Compostela ~ The Cathedral

At the end of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route is the cathedral in the town of Santiago de Compostela. After hiking across Northern Spain pilgrims finish their journey here, where legend says that the remains of Saint James are held. If you visit the town and cathedral be on the lookout for people with scallop shells attached to their backpack. The scallop shell is the traditional symbol of the Camino de Santiago and most pilgrims on the route carry at least one. Inside the cathedral be sure to also check out the giant incense burner which weighs about 80 kg. On certain holidays the incense burner is brought out and requires a pulley mechanism and a team of eight men to swing it back and forth in front of the altar.