The Holy Gate or the Gate of Forgiveness - Puerta Santa -, which is usually close, is open only in holy years, that is when the 25th July is Sunday. The next time is 2010.

The opening takes place on December the 31th of the precedent year, through a procession, with the archbishop and local authorities ahead. They approach to the door and ask the Apostle for admission. The traditions says that the gate is knocked three times with a silver hammer asking, at the same time, if the sinners are allowed to come into the house of God.
Pilgrims queue up here right through the year to reach the grave of the Apostle. The gate is as well called the 27 Wise Men Gate because, around this door, Santiago, his disciples and the 24 elders of the revelation are perfectly arranged.
The first measure carry out by baroque architects was, in year 1611, the building of a direct access to the crypt, avoiding pilgrims to walk through the whole cathedral.
The last year the cathedral was given a brand new bronze 126.000 ¤ Gate as a present by companies from Santigao.