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Town of the Apostle
Santiago de Compostela is the final destination of the legendary medieval way of pilgrimship Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James), now considered by Unesco a World Heritage Site. Until today it attracts visitors from all over the world thanks to its fantastic monuments. The town is named after the Apostle Saint James ("Santiago"), who is buried here.
Santiago is certainly one of Spain's most monumental towns, with a particular architectonical style all of its own. But it is as well a town plenty of life, with one of the most famous Universities and a large number of students who guarantee youthful ambience inbetween the historical walls. Also the region's cuisine is of great reputation, and it is said that nowhere you can eat better sea-food than in Galicia.
So this is a place with a really varied offer, and one of the great cultural centers of the continent.
Santiago de Compostela: Sightseeing
La Plaza del Obradoiro
The name of this square is said to come from "Obra de Oro" (work of gold), and be that true or not it is really shining. It forms the center of a town that seems to be a museum.
Construction of the Cathedral started in 1075, when the town arrived to the climax of its importance. The chapel, Capilla del Salvador, is still conserved of this oldest epoch.
The second phase, after the wedding of Doña Urraca and Raimundo of Bourgogne, shows influences of french Romanesque style, as well as a style that is all Santiago's own, the so-called Románico Compostelano. The Obradoiro Facade (to which lateron were added Barroque elements) and the towers Torre de las Campanas and Torre de la Carraca were made at this time.
Through the Obradoiro Door you enter the so-called Old Cathedral, a Romanesque crypta with the first vaults of groined arches that were ever built in Spain.
The sculptures of the Portico de la Gloria, another entrance door, are considered some of the most important works of medieval art.
Gelmirez Palace , face to face to the cathedral, is a brilliant example of Romanesque civil architecture. Of particular interest are its groined arches and sculpture works.
The Hospital Real was built in 1492 to shelter pilgrims. Today this building, in Plateresque and Renaissance styles, serves as Parador de Turismo.
Rajoy Palace is a huge and elegant neoclassical building of 18th century, located opposite to the cathedral.
Colegio de San Jerónimo and Colegio de Fonseca are both 15th century monasteries, founded by Alfonso III de Fonseca. In the latter there is the University library, and it conserves the famous 11th century manuscript Libro de Hojas.
Plaza de las Platerias
This square is named after the many shops of silver articles (Platerias) which are to be found still today under its arcades. From here you can see the cathedral's gothic portal and the only facade which is conserved in the original Romanesque style, with fantastic sculpture works, like the figure of King David.
Worth seeing are as well the Fuente de los Caballos, a 19th century fountain in the center of the square, Casa del Cabildo, of 18th century, and Casa de los Canónigos (also called Conga), another 18th century palace that separates Plaza de las Platerias from Plaza de la Quintana.
Plaza de la Quintana
From this square you see the Portico Real, Royal Door, of the cathedral, the towers Berenguela and Torre del Reloj, as well as the Puerta del Perdon. This door is opened only in a Holy Year, during the Apostle Festival.
The Monastery of San Pelayo de Antealtares , with its austere facade of granite, is one of the oldest buildings in Santiago. It was founded in 11th century by Alphonse II in order to entomb the mortal remains of the Apostle James there.
The baroque Casa de la Parra is another attraction at this square.
Plaza de la Azabacheria
To this square opened originally the legendary Puerta del Paradiso (door of the paradise), through which the pilgrims entered the cathedral. It was replaced by a neoclassical work of Ventura Rodriguez, which is to be seen today.
The monumental Monastery of San Martin Pinario, of 16th century, is one of the most impressive examples of Barroco Compostelana. It was built over a Romanesque church, which has been an important medieval religious center.
Legend tells us that the Convento de San Francisco was founded by Saint Franciscus of Assisi, after a revelation on his pilgrimship to Santiago, 1213 to 1215. God told him he should buy land from the monks of Saint Martin's Monastery for the symbolic price of a basket of fish, and then build there a monastery of the money some Cotolay would find in a fountain. Everything happened as predicted.
Little is left of the original gothic building. The monastery as we see it today was built in 17th and 18th century.
Around the University
The streets in the University district offer possibilities to have walks in truly poetic surroundings. In Rua del Villar there are some beautiful palaces, as Casa del Dean , in gothic style, Monroy Palace in Renaissance style, and Palacio de los Marqueses de Bendana, with neoclassical facade and baroque portal.
In Rua Nueva, (which means "New Street", but this one has that name since 12th century) you will find the 12th century Romanesque church Santa María Salomé. Its baroque tower was added lateron.
Close to it you may visit some interesting palaces: Palacio de Ramirans, Palacio de los Condes de Gimonde, Casa de las Pomas, and Palacio de Mondragón.
Santiago: History and Legends
The name Santiago goes back to the Apostle James (Saint James = Santiago) who went to this most north-western part of Spain, called by the Romans "Finis Terrae", "end of the world", to preach and convert people to Christianity.
After returning to Palestine in 44 a.C., he was taken prisoner by Herodes Agrippa and tortured to death. The king forbid to bury him, but in the night Jacob's disciples stole the body and brought him, in a sarcophagus of marble, on board of a small boat. The current of the sea drove the boat to the Spanish coast, into the port of the Roman province's capital, Iria Flavia. Here the Apostle was buried at a secret place in a wood.
Centuries later, in 813, the hermit Pelayo listened music in that wood and saw a shining. For this shining the place was called, in Latin, "Campus Stellae", field of the star, name that was lateron turned into Compostela.
Bishop Teodomiro, who received notice of that event, instituted an investigation, and so the tomb of the Apostle was discovered. King Alphonse II declared Saint James the patron of his empire and had built a chapel at that place. It is reported that from then on Saint James did several miracles, even that he fought side to side with King Ramiro I in the decisive battle against the Moors.
More and more pilgrims followed the way of Santiago, "Camino de Santiago", and the original chapel soon became the cathedral of the new settlement, Santiago de Compostela..
In 12th and 13th century the town had its greatest importance, and Pope Alexander III declared it a Holy Town, like Rome and Jerusalem. Pope Calixto II declared that the pilgrims who went to Santiago in a Holy Year should be free of all their sins. El Año Santo (Holy Year) is celebrated each time when the Apostol's day (July, 25) is a Sunday.
Night life in Santiago
The old town
In Rua del Franco and its side-streets there are numerous restaurants, bars and traditional taverns, and it is more than probable that you will want to try the delicious "Pulpo á la Gallega" and Ribeiro wine offered there. You will find lots of students here - Santiago is a very important University town - and "Tunas", traditional groups of students in medieval dresses, go from local to local singing and making fun.
El Ensanche
Around Plaza Roja in particular there are many fashionable locals, pubs, discotheques as well as cafés in the style of the 1920s.
Gastronomy
To speak about the cuisine of Santiago is not possible without taking into consideration the cuisine of the entire region of Galicia, which has an outstanding reputation in all Spain. Most typical is fish, which exists here in extraordinary quality.
The Saint Jacob's Shell, Viera, is not only the symbol of the town, but also a first rate speciality. The same has to be said about Pulpo á la Gallega, cuttlefish prepared with paprika. Another well-known dish is Empanada Gallega, a pie of fish, meat or vegetables.
Among sweets Tarta Compostelana, a tart of almonds, is most famous.
The wines of the region have a great reputation too, specially Ribeiro, young and fresh, but don't leave out the chance to try as well Fefiñanes, Betanzos, Rosal, Valdeorras, Ulla and Amandi.
VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE:
If you are in Santiago at the end of July, don't miss the Festival of the Apostle. On July, 24th takes place the "Fuego del Apostol", great fire-works in front of the Obradoiro-door of the cathedral. The next day, during mass, a huge incense font that is fixed to the ceiling of the cathedral with a rope is swung through all the nave.
Santiago de Compostela is the final destination of the legendary medieval way of pilgrimship Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James), now considered by Unesco a World Heritage Site. Until today it attracts visitors from all over the world thanks to its fantastic monuments. The town is named after the Apostle Saint James ("Santiago"), who is buried here.
Santiago is certainly one of Spain's most monumental towns, with a particular architectonical style all of its own. But it is as well a town plenty of life, with one of the most famous Universities and a large number of students who guarantee youthful ambience inbetween the historical walls. Also the region's cuisine is of great reputation, and it is said that nowhere you can eat better sea-food than in Galicia.
So this is a place with a really varied offer, and one of the great cultural centers of the continent.
Santiago de Compostela: Sightseeing
La Plaza del Obradoiro
The name of this square is said to come from "Obra de Oro" (work of gold), and be that true or not it is really shining. It forms the center of a town that seems to be a museum.
Construction of the Cathedral started in 1075, when the town arrived to the climax of its importance. The chapel, Capilla del Salvador, is still conserved of this oldest epoch.
The second phase, after the wedding of Doña Urraca and Raimundo of Bourgogne, shows influences of french Romanesque style, as well as a style that is all Santiago's own, the so-called Románico Compostelano. The Obradoiro Facade (to which lateron were added Barroque elements) and the towers Torre de las Campanas and Torre de la Carraca were made at this time.
Through the Obradoiro Door you enter the so-called Old Cathedral, a Romanesque crypta with the first vaults of groined arches that were ever built in Spain.
The sculptures of the Portico de la Gloria, another entrance door, are considered some of the most important works of medieval art.
Gelmirez Palace , face to face to the cathedral, is a brilliant example of Romanesque civil architecture. Of particular interest are its groined arches and sculpture works.
The Hospital Real was built in 1492 to shelter pilgrims. Today this building, in Plateresque and Renaissance styles, serves as Parador de Turismo.
Rajoy Palace is a huge and elegant neoclassical building of 18th century, located opposite to the cathedral.
Colegio de San Jerónimo and Colegio de Fonseca are both 15th century monasteries, founded by Alfonso III de Fonseca. In the latter there is the University library, and it conserves the famous 11th century manuscript Libro de Hojas.
Plaza de las Platerias
This square is named after the many shops of silver articles (Platerias) which are to be found still today under its arcades. From here you can see the cathedral's gothic portal and the only facade which is conserved in the original Romanesque style, with fantastic sculpture works, like the figure of King David.
Worth seeing are as well the Fuente de los Caballos, a 19th century fountain in the center of the square, Casa del Cabildo, of 18th century, and Casa de los Canónigos (also called Conga), another 18th century palace that separates Plaza de las Platerias from Plaza de la Quintana.
Plaza de la Quintana
From this square you see the Portico Real, Royal Door, of the cathedral, the towers Berenguela and Torre del Reloj, as well as the Puerta del Perdon. This door is opened only in a Holy Year, during the Apostle Festival.
The Monastery of San Pelayo de Antealtares , with its austere facade of granite, is one of the oldest buildings in Santiago. It was founded in 11th century by Alphonse II in order to entomb the mortal remains of the Apostle James there.
The baroque Casa de la Parra is another attraction at this square.
Plaza de la Azabacheria
To this square opened originally the legendary Puerta del Paradiso (door of the paradise), through which the pilgrims entered the cathedral. It was replaced by a neoclassical work of Ventura Rodriguez, which is to be seen today.
The monumental Monastery of San Martin Pinario, of 16th century, is one of the most impressive examples of Barroco Compostelana. It was built over a Romanesque church, which has been an important medieval religious center.
Legend tells us that the Convento de San Francisco was founded by Saint Franciscus of Assisi, after a revelation on his pilgrimship to Santiago, 1213 to 1215. God told him he should buy land from the monks of Saint Martin's Monastery for the symbolic price of a basket of fish, and then build there a monastery of the money some Cotolay would find in a fountain. Everything happened as predicted.
Little is left of the original gothic building. The monastery as we see it today was built in 17th and 18th century.
Around the University
The streets in the University district offer possibilities to have walks in truly poetic surroundings. In Rua del Villar there are some beautiful palaces, as Casa del Dean , in gothic style, Monroy Palace in Renaissance style, and Palacio de los Marqueses de Bendana, with neoclassical facade and baroque portal.
In Rua Nueva, (which means "New Street", but this one has that name since 12th century) you will find the 12th century Romanesque church Santa María Salomé. Its baroque tower was added lateron.
Close to it you may visit some interesting palaces: Palacio de Ramirans, Palacio de los Condes de Gimonde, Casa de las Pomas, and Palacio de Mondragón.
Santiago: History and Legends
The name Santiago goes back to the Apostle James (Saint James = Santiago) who went to this most north-western part of Spain, called by the Romans "Finis Terrae", "end of the world", to preach and convert people to Christianity.
After returning to Palestine in 44 a.C., he was taken prisoner by Herodes Agrippa and tortured to death. The king forbid to bury him, but in the night Jacob's disciples stole the body and brought him, in a sarcophagus of marble, on board of a small boat. The current of the sea drove the boat to the Spanish coast, into the port of the Roman province's capital, Iria Flavia. Here the Apostle was buried at a secret place in a wood.
Centuries later, in 813, the hermit Pelayo listened music in that wood and saw a shining. For this shining the place was called, in Latin, "Campus Stellae", field of the star, name that was lateron turned into Compostela.
Bishop Teodomiro, who received notice of that event, instituted an investigation, and so the tomb of the Apostle was discovered. King Alphonse II declared Saint James the patron of his empire and had built a chapel at that place. It is reported that from then on Saint James did several miracles, even that he fought side to side with King Ramiro I in the decisive battle against the Moors.
More and more pilgrims followed the way of Santiago, "Camino de Santiago", and the original chapel soon became the cathedral of the new settlement, Santiago de Compostela..
In 12th and 13th century the town had its greatest importance, and Pope Alexander III declared it a Holy Town, like Rome and Jerusalem. Pope Calixto II declared that the pilgrims who went to Santiago in a Holy Year should be free of all their sins. El Año Santo (Holy Year) is celebrated each time when the Apostol's day (July, 25) is a Sunday.
Night life in Santiago
The old town
In Rua del Franco and its side-streets there are numerous restaurants, bars and traditional taverns, and it is more than probable that you will want to try the delicious "Pulpo á la Gallega" and Ribeiro wine offered there. You will find lots of students here - Santiago is a very important University town - and "Tunas", traditional groups of students in medieval dresses, go from local to local singing and making fun.
El Ensanche
Around Plaza Roja in particular there are many fashionable locals, pubs, discotheques as well as cafés in the style of the 1920s.
Gastronomy
To speak about the cuisine of Santiago is not possible without taking into consideration the cuisine of the entire region of Galicia, which has an outstanding reputation in all Spain. Most typical is fish, which exists here in extraordinary quality.
The Saint Jacob's Shell, Viera, is not only the symbol of the town, but also a first rate speciality. The same has to be said about Pulpo á la Gallega, cuttlefish prepared with paprika. Another well-known dish is Empanada Gallega, a pie of fish, meat or vegetables.
Among sweets Tarta Compostelana, a tart of almonds, is most famous.
The wines of the region have a great reputation too, specially Ribeiro, young and fresh, but don't leave out the chance to try as well Fefiñanes, Betanzos, Rosal, Valdeorras, Ulla and Amandi.
VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE:
If you are in Santiago at the end of July, don't miss the Festival of the Apostle. On July, 24th takes place the "Fuego del Apostol", great fire-works in front of the Obradoiro-door of the cathedral. The next day, during mass, a huge incense font that is fixed to the ceiling of the cathedral with a rope is swung through all the nave.
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