Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela It is the Capital of Galicia and the most visited city in the Galician community, by tourists and pilgrims, from all over the world. It was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1985, concurring in it being, together with Rome and Jerusalem, one of the three great pilgrimage sites of Christianity, for housing the remains of the Apostle Santiago in its Cathedral.

It is because of these facts that over approximately 1200 years, culture, traditions and gastronomy have been etched in stone, the spirit of the inhabitants, pilgrims and visitors who throughout time have left their mark on this Galician capital.

WHAT TO DO IN SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA? WHAT YOU CANNOT MISS!

Next we begin our special guide for pilgrims who end their trip in the Cathedral of Santiago.

THE CATHEDRAL OF SANTIAGO OF COMPOSTELA

The origin of the city of Santiago de Compostela, as we know it today, is the consequence of the discovery of the remains of the apostle Santiago, about the year 830, which are deposited in the fabulous Cathedral of Santiago. For this reason, we consider essential, a more or less extensive visit to it, as well as the surroundings of it, since it constitutes the epicenter of life in the Galician capital.

Without going into architectural details, we advise you to make a visit inside it and, believers or not, attend one of the pilgrim’s masses that are celebrated there, every day, at 12:00 and, with a little luck, you can see “fly to the botafumeiro”, Unique and exclusive show of this Cathedral.

If you have time, I would recommend you take a guided tour of the Cathedral Museum, Porch of Glory “Architectural jewel of the Romanesque” and the roofs of the Cathedral.

During the years 2021 and 2022, you will have the opportunity to go to the Cathedral through the “Puerta Santa or Puerta de la Perdonanza” which is where pilgrims who make the Camino de Santiago and visitors who wish, access it in the Holy Years, a fact that had not occurred since 2010.

OBRADOIRO SQUARE

“The most beautiful room in Europe”, as many call it, built under the direction of the architect Fernando Casas Novoa in 1757. Located right in front of the main facade of the Cathedral. From the same square we can see the greatness of it, with its two twin towers “Towers of the Bells”, “Torre de la Carraca” and Gelmírez Palace.

In the same square we can see an old Pilgrims Hospital, ordered to be built by the Catholic Monarchs and that today, converted into a Parador, is the “Hostal de los Reyes Católicos”

In front of the main entrance of the Cathedral, the Raxoi Palace, with its spectacular neoclassical façade and where the City Council and part of the Xunta de Galicia are located. In the pediment stands out an impressive statue of Santiago Matamoros, in which the Battle of Clavijo is represented.

To close the square, we find the magnificent building of the old Rectorate of the University of Santiago, in the Colegio de San Jerónimo (XV century), which today houses the University Library. The most significant part of it is its façade with a very expressive figure of a Pilgrim Santiago and its cloister.

PLATERIAS SQUARE

Named for being in it, since medieval times, a large number of craftsmen dedicated to goldsmithing, mainly specialized in silver work that, today, continue the tradition in the establishments located there.

Along with it, stands out the “Clock Tower” or also called “Berenguela”

In the center of the Plaza we can see one of the most beautiful fountains in the city, “The source of the Horses”

QUINTANA SQUARE

Located behind the Façade of the Obradoiro, where we find a spectacular staircase, divided into two heights “Quintana de Vivos” at the top and “Quintana de Mortos”, in the lower part of the square, so called because it was used for burials.

In this square is where the “Holy Door”, where pilgrims access, only in Holy years or Jacobean years, inside the Cathedral.

In the same square we can see, in front of the Cathedral, the Monastery of San Paio Antealtares, inside which we can enjoy the Museum of Sacred Art, with a wonderful collection of sculpture, painting and liturgical goldwork.

AZABACHERY SQUARE

Located in the northern part of the Cathedral (Plaza de la Inmaculada), so called because there are many artisans who were dedicated to working with jet. The entrance door to the Cathedral, formerly called “Paraiso”, was through which all the pilgrims who made the pilgrimage usually entered the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. French Way, Northern Way and English Way.

MONASTERY OF SAN MARTIN PINARIO

It is located to the north of the Cathedral, next to the Plaza de la Azabachería, having been built between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries.

It is one of the greatest monuments in Spain. The most notable elements of the complex are the baroque staircase, the bell tower and its main altarpiece.

At present it is the headquarters of the Major Seminary and the diocesan historical archive, housing an interesting Museum that we can visit.

SAN FRANCISCO CONVENT CHURCH

It is located behind the Monastery of San Martín Pinario, 150 meters from the Cathedral.

The foundation of the same dates from the year 1214, time in which Saint Francis of Assisi made the Camino de Santiago.

Supposedly, between reality and legend, the construction of the convent was due to a divine revelation that the Saint had, in which he was urged to build a convent. The place was given to him by the abbot of the old convent of San Martin Pinario, in exchange for a basket of fish, on an annual basis.

We can see Gothic remains of the primitive building being, all the work that we can appreciate, from the XNUMXth century and a great baroque church from the XNUMXth century. The Museum of the Holy Land is located in its cloister.

Outside the convent you can see an impressive sculptural figure of the Saint.

SANTO DOMINGO DE BONAVAL CONVENT AND POBO GALEGO MUSEUM

The convent of Santo Domingo de Bonaval, was built in the first third of the XNUMXth century although it has had three stages, due to its numerous modifications, being the Baroque construction, mainly, the one that we can observe today.

It has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest, since 1912.

It is located at the entrance to the Historic Quarter of Santiago, very close to the entrance of the Camino Frances de Santiago, next to the Porta do Camino.

It has one of the largest churches in Santiago de Compostela.

In the XNUMXth century, after the confiscation of Mendizábal, it was used as a College and Hospice.

Inside it houses the Pantheon of Illustrious Galicians. It houses, among others, the burial mound of the writer Rosalía de Castro, as one of its most representative figures.

Since 1977, it is located in a wing of the convent, the Museo del Pobo Galego in which, its 9 rooms, offers us fundamental aspects of Galician culture and crafts, as well as their customs, traditions and ancestral ways of life.

COLLEGE OF SANTA MARIA DEL SAR

The Collegiate Church of Santa María del Sar was founded in 1136, being the Archbishop of Santiago D. Diego de Gelmírez, being located, as its name indicates, on the banks of the Sar river.

It has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, since 1895.

The construction of the temple, probably, lasted until the beginning of the XNUMXth century, in which the influence of Master Mateo, builder of the Portico de la Gloria of the Cathedral of Santiago is reflected.

It is, next to the Cathedral, the church that preserves most of its primitive Romanesque style factory in which, as the most outstanding elements, there is a wing of the Cloister (unique in Santiago of this style), built by the workshop of the Master Mateo; the Museum that consists of 3 rooms in which we find different architectural elements, sculptures, pieces of jewelry, religious ornaments, the founding diploma of the Collegiate Church, signed by Gelmírez and a XNUMXth century Baptismal font that is located at the entrance of the temple.

What makes this Church attractive and different, compared to all the others, is the inclination of some of its walls and pillars, due to the terrain on which it is built, probably due to its proximity to the Sar river, giving a feeling of weakness and instability. .

MUSEUM OF PILGRIMAGES

The Museum of the Pilgrimages and of Santiago deserves a special visit, since it exhibits a whole culture related to the Jacobean phenomenon, pilgrimages, the Camino de Santiago and, therefore, the history of the city.

Given its importance, it was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1951.

Its creation dates from 1951 and is located next to the Plaza de Platerías, at the south entrance of the Cathedral of Santiago. After several extensions, at different times, today it occupies a heterogeneous group that represented the old facilities of the Gothic House, Bank of Spain and House of the Cabildo.

LA ALAMEDA PARK

The Alameda is the oldest park and the main urban garden of Santiago de Compostela, located in the center of Santiago.

Its initial creation takes place with the donation, by the Count of Altamira, of land for the enjoyment of the inhabitants of Santiago, a fact that occurred in the 56.000th century. Already, in the XIX century, it is when the final extension of the Park was carried out by the council, providing the whole of about XNUMX square meters.

It is the promenade and leisure area of the inhabitants of Santiago and is one of the “almost” obligatory places to visit to take the pulse of the city, since not everything is around the Cathedral and its monumental area.

The park is arranged in three areas: Paseo de la Alameda, Carballeira de Santa Susana and Paseo de la Herradura or Paseo de los Leones.

In it, we highlight the magnificent views that can be seen of the monumental area of Santiago de Compostela, especially the Cathedral, as well as the variety of tree species, groves of chestnut trees, eucalyptus and an important exotic flora.

As a curiosity, we found a fir tree called “La Perona” planted on the occasion of Eva Perón’s visit to the city. Likewise, in the park we find an important number of sculptures, with symbolic characters of Galician society and culture, such as Valle Inclán, Rosalia de Castro, Méndez Núñez, Pedro Pais, Manuel Ventura Figueroa and some curious Santiago citizens such as “Las Marías ”representing two women who, in the middle of the XNUMXth century, strolled through the park every day at two in the afternoon, wearing striking clothes for the time.

PLACES TO VISIT NEAR SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

If you want to get some of the best views of Santiago, be sure to visit one of the following places, very close to the city:

MONTE DEL GOZO AND MONUMENT TO THE PILGRIMS

Emblematic place and obligatory point of passage, for the pilgrims who make the Camino de Santiago Francés and Camino del Norte. Located in the village of San Marcos, about 5 km from Santiago.

On the mountain is the small Chapel of San Marcos that, in its day, served as a pilgrim hospital.

On the occasion of the celebration of the World Youth Encounter in 1989 and the visit, for that reason, by Pope John Paul II, a grandiose monument was erected to commemorate the act and the spiritual significance of the Jacobean pilgrimage.

Next to this monument, in 1993 a monument with two pilgrims was erected in which, with very expressive gestures, they reflect their happiness for the vision of Santiago de Compostela, as the end point of their pilgrimage.

MOUNT PEDROSO

It is the most representative mountain in the city, located about 6,5 km from Santiago de Compostela, and from its viewpoint you can see the best panoramic views that the city offers us.

Perhaps the best time to enjoy them is the sunset, coinciding with the lighting of the city.

1-DAY EXCURSIONS FROM SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

If you are going to be in Santiago de Compostela for several days, after having done, for example, the Camino de Santiago from SarriaI recommend that you do not miss one of the different, most interesting visits that you can do in just 1 day, returning to Santiago to sleep. We do not intend to indicate you absolutely all the possibilities of visits, as they would be endless, but we do indicate some of the most interesting ones.

FISTERRA / COSTA DA MORTE

Places of great historical significance and legends related to the Camino de Santiago, you will discover on the way to this area, the “Finis Terrae” or “End of the World” as the Romans called it, since they did not know any land beyond.

You can visit the fishing villages of Corcubión, Finisterre, Muxia and Camariñas, with their spectacular views over the Atlantic Ocean and the impressive lighthouses of Finisterre and Cabo Vilán, as well as appreciate the hórreos of Carnota and San Martiño de Ozón and the Ézaro Waterfall , formed by the Xallas River, the only waterfall in Europe that flows directly into the Atlantic Ocean.

In its monumental and artistic aspect, the town of Pontemaceira will surprise you, with its spectacular medieval bridge over the Tambre river, the Pazo de Cotón in Negreira, the historical-artistic complex of Corcubión, the Church of Santa María das Areas in Finisterre, whose chapel all the pilgrims came and in Muxia the Virxe da Barca Sanctuary where, according to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to the Apostle Santiago to encourage him on his pilgrimage.

It goes without saying that the gastronomy of the area is one of its main hallmarks, with spectacular fish, meat and seafood, which you will enjoy in the many good restaurants in the area.

With absolute security, you will enjoy doing this excursion.

RIAS BAIXAS

On this route you will visit towns and cities located in the estuaries of Pontevedra and Arousa.

The first visit would be the city of Pontevedra, next to the river Lérez, which has a spectacular old town, one of the best preserved in Galicia, where you can “get lost” in the city visiting the Plaza de la Peregrina, where the Chapel of the Pilgrim Virgin is located that shows us a beautiful image of the Pilgrim Virgin, related to the Camino de Santiago, stroll through the typical granite and wood arcades of this city, where the Leña, Verdura and Herreria squares are located. Also a must-see is the Minor Basilica of Santa María la Mayor and the ruins of the Church of Santo Domingo, next to the Plaza de España.

The next stop is the fishing village of combarro, located in the same estuary of Pontevedra. It has been distinguished as an Artistic and Picturesque complex in 1972. A small town, famous for its popular architecture, reflected in a set of 30 small granaries (typical Galician pantries), stone crosses and the typical houses of sailors and fishermen.

From Combarro we head, bordering the sea, towards O Grove, but first we must make a stop at Playa de la Lanzada since it is one of the most famous beaches in Galicia and has one of its best sandy beaches, with a length of 2 kilometers . O Grove, has a privileged situation framed between the
Arousa estuary, to the east and the