OVERVIEW
Santiago de Compostella is - of course - the city of pilgrims. Since the ninth century they have been coming from all over Europe to touch the relics of St James. He was the first christian martyr and the patron saint of Spain. Legend has it that his disciples brought his remains to Santiago to be buried. After Jerusalem and Rome, Santiago de Compostella is the third most holy city in Christendom.
Santiago's population is around 90,000 and most locals live in the outer reaches of town, suburbs and apartments which could be in any European town. The regional assembly is also in this area - Santiago's the capital of Galicia, the semi-autonomous province on the Atlantic seaboard of North Western Spain. The city is the home of the more than 500 years old University of Santiago de Compostella.
The bit of town worth seeing, the old quarter, is at the top of the hill. A medieval maze of narrow cobbled streets, gaping suddenly into large prazas (galego - the Galician tongue - for the Spanish plaza), it is beautiful and atmospheric. The Medieval city is a national monument and most of it can only be entered by foot. The main attraction of Santiago de Cmpostella is the cathedral. This has been the terminating point of the pilgrims route for about eighthunderd year now and it is still a sight to see today. The impressive Baroque facade at the Plaza de Obradoiro will take your breath away, as will the contrastingly sober and serene interior. With the cathedral you will find other interesting historic buildings like the treasury, the palace of Archbishop Gelmirez, cloisters, and an archaeological museum.
And if you have seen the cathedral, there are still dozens of monastries and churches left to visit. There is the large Benedictine San Martín, San Francisco (reputedly founded by Saint Francis himself while visitinf Santiago), Santa Clara, with it's curving facade, and Santo Domingo, with it's three seventeenth century spiring stairways leading to three different floost of the same tower.
SIGHTS
As you might have expected already, most sights at Santiago are somehow related to the church and the pilgrims. If you love visiting churches, you have come to the right place. There are many churches, chapels, monastries and other clergical buildigns to be visited. There are palaces of people who used to work in those churches. Museums commenting on the history of these people and churches.
Praza da Quintana
With its flight of steps that divide it into the “Quintana of the Living” and “Quintana of the Dead” and it's famous Holy door (only opened during holy years – when the feast of St James, 25 July falls on a Sunday), this building is as interesting as it is beautiful.
Museo y Tesoro de la Cathedral
The archaeological section of this breathtaking building holds fragments of the original Romanesque Cathedral structure. As the name indicates, the treasures of the Cathedral and other moments of history such as French and Spanish tapestry are here to be seen.
Museo do Pobo Galego
The Museum of the Galician People is located in the convent of Santo Domingo de Bonaval and features a collection on Galego crafts and traditions.
Santa Clara
This charming church has a curiously curving baroque facade.
Palace of Archbishop Gelmirez
Gelmirez was an important figure in Santiago's development: he rebuilt the cathedral in the twelfth century, turned it into an archbishopric, and most importantly made the place extremely rich. In his luxuriant palace are a vaulted kitchen and some fine Romanesque chambers to be viewed.
Palace of Archbishop Gelmirez
Gelmirez was an important figure in Santiago's development: he rebuilt the cathedral in the twelfth century, turned it into an archbishopric, and most importantly made the place extremely rich. In his luxuriant palace are a vaulted kitchen and some fine Romanesque chambers to be viewed.
Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela
Of course the cathedral is one of the key attractions of the city and has been the destination of pilgrimages for many centuries. The building has four separate facades, Obradoiro, La Azabacheria, Platerias and La Qunitana; each one has its own tale to tell. The main building is Romanesque, and much more sober than the frilly main Obradoio facade leads to expect. The first striking feature when entering the church is the Pórtico de Gloria, now situated inside the catheral behind the Obradoi facade, but once the West front. It is a magnificent example of Gothic sculpture, with many beautifully carved figures, most important of which is of course St. James. The most important part of the cathedral is the high altar. You can climb the stairs behind the altar and embrace the jewel-encrusted statue of St. James. This will half your time in purgatory when you die.
Another attraction of the cathedral is the Botafumeiro, an enormous censer swinging from side to side under the roof. It is not demonstrated every day, but during the noon mass on Fridays and Saturdays you can see it swing. It is a powerful symbol of purification, and in the old days helped to keep the atmosphere breathable. So many pilgrims would flock into the cathedral during mass, that the smell of all those unwashed travellers would be rather.
GETTING THERE
The traditional way of getting to Santiago de Compostella is of course walking, although cycling and horseback riding are also accepted modes of transport for the dedicated pilgrim. Four major paths lead to Santiago from France. They start from Tours, Vèlezay, Le Puy, and Arles, and cross the Pyrenees at the Somport or Roncesvalles passes.
For those of us less religiously inclined, Santiago has an airport, railway station (c/del Horreo) and bus station.
NOTICE
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