Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela Postcard

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is situated in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. The cathedral is the reputed burial-place of Saint James the Great, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. Construction of the present cathedral began in 1075 under the reign of Alfonso VI of Castile (1040-1109) and the patronage of bishop Diego Peláez. It was built mostly in granite. The cathedral has been embellished and expanded between the 16th and the 18th century.

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela Postcard(PH Wish from Vera Masterkova)

The postcard shows the 12th century Portico da Gloria behind the western facade. This Portico da Gloria in the narthex of the west portal is a remains from the Romanesque period. It is a masterwork of Romanesque sculpture built between 1168 and 1188 by Master Mateo. The vigorous naturalism of the figures in this triple portal is an expression of an art form, varied in its details, workmanship and polychromy (of which faint traces of colour remain).

SOURCE:
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela Wikipedia Entry