The cosmopolitan city of Barcelona brimming with spectacular architecture, exquisite history and gastronomical delights for tourists – presents a lot of sights to see. One of them is the famous Botafumeiro – it is a great show which I can compare to the sight which leaves a firm and a great impression. This information along with a brief history of the Botafumeiro, how and why it is important to visit the place will all be explained in this blog post.

What is the Botafumeiro?

The Botafumeiro is a large thurible found in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia of northwestern Spain. It does however have a swinging motion that is why it is also called the swinging thurible. The Botafumeiro alone has a weight of 80 kg and has a height of 1.6 meters. Of great workmanship, it is made from brass and it is for suspension from which heights it could be pulled back by a pulley system.

The purpose of the Botafumeiro

The Botafumeiro has been around even before the middle ages, by the 12th century to be precise. Its principal function is to “disinfect” or “purify” the cathedral, in other words, to metaphorically drive out evil. Originally, with so many people coming to the cathedral; the incense burner had been employed for the purpose of covering smells.

The Botafumeiro in Barcelona

Even though the Botafumeiro is permanently set in Santiago de Compostela it can be moved occasionally to other prominent cities such as Barcelona. There are, however, some places you could see this perfect art of swinging the Botafumeiro the Santa Maria del Mar Church in Barcelona for instance. Special occasions do take place in the church where charitoters have to bring the Botafumeiro in and rotate it around to give tourists their money’s worth.

That brings up the question: When can you watch the Botafumeiro in Barcelona?

It is worth to know that the performance of the Botafumeiro is not everyday in Barcelona so it is better to plan the visit. The Santa Maria del Mar church has scheduled dates on which the Botafumeiro will be used and it’s advisable to contact the church in advance or better still visit the church’s website to avoid missing the stunning display. As it will be noted these tend to occur during religious festivities or special occasions.

Experiencing the Botafumeiro

Citizens planning to attend the Botafumeiro event should prepare to arrive early since most people will be flocking at that venue. The church may fill up with people and perspective, the direction of the swinging censer an improvement. As soon as the swinging commences it becomes almost impossible not to gaze in awe at the opulence of the Botafumeiro. Non-stop the giant censer swings up and down the hall, while the smell of the incense lingers in the hall. I strongly recommend that every admirer of Sacred Art should attempt to witness the swing of the Botafumeiro .

Advice on Going to Barcelona and the Botafumeiro

1. Plan Ahead

Before going to the Santa Maria del Mar church you need to visit their official site or call the church to find out when is the Botafumeiro will be available so that you do not miss the experience. Of course it is always better to schedule your day to go as per the plan.

2. Arrive Early

If you go early enough to the place you want to build your bleachers you will be able to secure a good area to view the event. There are more and more people to watch the Botafumeiro swing as the event becomes more popular, thus, early arrival is the only way to get the perfect view.

3. Capture the Moment

Bat Celebration is the Botafumeiro event and this is an event that will identified one in a life time. Make certain that you bring your camera with you just in case that you need to take the picture of this amazing occurrence or use your video camera to record the event so that you can watch the great sight again and again.

4. Respect the Space

It is important that the event of which the BOTAFUMEIRO is a component is set in the religious background. You should not behave anyhow and destruct the church as they are sacred places. Do not look like the sort of person who would disrupt the event in some manner.

In Conclusion

The Botafumeiro is an unforgettable drammatic incident extraordinary that enriches and enhances any trip to Barcelona. Just as it is to watch this swinging giant censer in the making mesmerizes you and gives you memories to cherish. It is therefore important to go with a schedule, to be on time and to show proper reverence when going through the incredible opportunity. Therefore, whenever you find yourself in Barcelona again, try to check whether the Botafumeiro will be open for visitors, it is worth to see.