• ⚠️ Emergency contact in Spain - Dial 112 and AlertCops app. More on this here.
  • Remove ads on the forum by becoming a donating member. More here.
This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

Botafumeiro out of use for maintenance for unspecified period

Let us pick up your suitcase once you arrive in Europe....
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
I’m sure it will be back prior to Christmas Mass.
 
I have read that there are two botafumeiros.
"The current Botafumeiro is made of an alloy of brass and bronze and is plated by a very thin 20-micrometre layer of silver. The current Botafumeiro was created by the gold and silversmith José Losada in 1851. It has a golden sheen." [btw brass and bronze are both alloys themselves.]
and
"There is another large thurible used in the other masses carried out in the cathedral, called La Alcachofa (literally, 'the Artichoke')[7] or La Repollo (literally, 'the Cabbage'). La Alcachofa is a silver-colored metal censer. It was created in 1971 by the sacred art artisans working under the craftsman Luis Molina Acedo." [Wiki]
So can't they use the spare in the meantime?

I should have read the article! I just read the headline and made an assumption. Edited after reading posts 4, 5, and 6.
 
Last edited:
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Bert45 said:
So can't they use the spare in the meantime?
Click to expand...
The thurible is only one small element of the botafumeiro, there is the whole pully mechanism and supporting structure, a considerable weight..
If there was any doubt about its integrity, and this would appear to be the case, there would need to be a very thorough inspection of the whole system, it could take some time.
 
Ropes wear out, as any sailor or bell-ringer will tell you. Replacing the ropes, e.g. bell ropes, is when you have a good look at the mechanism to make sure everything is OK. So this may be a routine shut down lasting a few days. Then again, if they do find a problem the shut down will be longer. Fingers crossed it´s the former.
 
Camino Ready, Backpacks, Boots etc
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
There was no bota at Easter.

I asked the Cathedal about this and they are unable to say when it will be back. This is clearly long term
 
I was there last night on a tour. They are using the opportunity to get it all checked out and it is taking longer than expected. You can see the two bota in the museum (No pics allowed) and get the latest bota-fix news on a guided tour. The night tour was excellent for this. Fun facts the guide shared: it swings at 70kph / 40mph and has only broken 4 times - and no one has died
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Camino Photo

Most read last week in this forum

Similar threads

  • Tags cathedral
    • Botafumeiro
    Replies
    2
    Views
    1K
    Rick Davidson
  • Tags cathedral
    • Botafumeiro used at today's pilgrim mass
    Replies
    20
    Views
    3K
    Wooz
  • Tags cathedral
    • Botafumeiro back in place in the cathedral
    Replies
    17
    Views
    3K
    Bradypus
    Menu
    Log in
    Register