We invite you to browse this section to discover more about our charming
city and its surroundings. If you have any questions or would like additional
information, please add a comment below.
WELCOME TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA!
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| Santiago de Compostela |
Santiago de Compostela is the administrative and political capital of the Autonomous Region of Galicia in northwestern
WHERE IS SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA?
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| Location of Santiago within Spain |
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| Location of Santiago within the municipality of Galicia |
The city is
located in the centre of Galicia ,
in the south of the province
of A Coruña 30
km from the coast, Santiago de Compostela lies
between the Pedroso and Viso mountains, surrounded by the Sar and Sarela
rivers.
SANTIAGO IS FAMOUS FOR...
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| Logo Camino de Santiago |
…being the final
destination of the Camiño de Santiago
(Saint James’s Way). The Camiño refers to a series of pilgrimage routes (most
commonly the Camino Francés or French route) to the shrine of the apostle St.
James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in
northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are
buried.
LANDMARKS
This section
will be updated with information about the places depicted in the postcards we
send. Before you start reading about the places to visit in Santiago de
Compostela, watch a video that shows an incredible spectacle of projections in Santiago
Postcard 19: Casa da Parra
The Casa da Parra (The House of Vine) is a beautiful stone house located over the staircase of Quintana Square. The vines of grapes sculputred on the lintel and side parts of the entrance dorr and on the upper large windows give the house its name. Nowadays it serves as a temporary exhibition hall intended to show the work of contemporary Galician artists.
Postcard 18: Salomé Church
Salomé Church is located in Rúa Nova which, along with Vilar Street and Franco Street, is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Santiago. This Romanesque church was built in 1140, in order to honour Saint James Apostle's mother
and it is only five minutes from the cathedral.
Postcard 17: Casa do Cabildo in Praterías Square
Casa
do Cabildo is considered to be one of the finest examples of Baroque
architecture in Galicia. This impressive house was designed by Clemente
Fernández Valera in 1758 and is renowned for its exquisite facade that encloses
the Praza das Praterías. It was restored by the Santiago Consortium in 2011 and
since then has formed part of the network of museums in the historic city.
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| Casa Cabildo. Santiagoonline.com |
This postcard features a magnificent thirteenth
century statue of the seated Saint James dressed in what appears to be a
pilgrim's outfit. You can find it in the High Chapel (Capela Maior) of Santiago
de Compostela Cathedral. Click here to find out more about the apostle after
whom our city is named.
Postcard 15: San Martín Pinario Seminar
San Martín Pinario Seminary stands in Praza da
Inmaculada, only a few meters away from Azabachería facade of the Cathedral. It
was founded as a monastery by some Benedictine monks in the last third of the
16th century and its construction ended two centuries later, in the late 18th
century. The monastery is, together with the Cathedral, the most valuable set
Galician Baroque, and the second largest in Spain, after El Escorial (Madrid).
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| Main altar in Saint of Saint Martin Pinario Church. Arte e Historia. |
Today, it is the seat of Santiago’s
Seminar and also houses a museum of
religious art which contains relics, collections of gold and ivory and
liturgical vestments.
A Queimada is one of the most popular rituals in Galicia. The term refers to a punch prepared with Galician orujo and sugar, coffee beans, lemon and cinnamon. To celebrate the ritual, people gather around the container in which the punch is prepared and recite the well-known Conxuro da Queimada. Click here to read its translation.
According to tradition, the goal of a Queimada is to keep the bad spirits away from the living! Find out more here.
Postcard 13: Staircase at the Museo do Pobo Galego
As its name indicates, the Museum of the Galician people contains exhibitions on a wide rage of Galician folk culture: fishing, farming, traditional costumes, musical instruments, etc... This impressive staircase connects the museum's cloister with its various floors.
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| Museo do pobo galego. Vigoenfotos |
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| Museo do Pobo Galego. Santiago Turismo |
Postcard 12: The Hejduk Memorial Towers
Postcard 12 features the Hejduk Towers at the City of Culture in Mount Gaiás. American arhitect John Heijduk originally designed the towers in 1992 to be botanic towers for Compostela Park however after it was never realised, Eisenman who was an old friend and colleague of Hejduk decided to recover the project.The towers are 82-foot tall and situated at the edge of the new site, overlooking the city's old medieval centre. The two towers bare a similar form but are constructed from different materials, one is clad in granite while the other appears like a wire-frame showing metal and glass.
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| Hejduk Towers |
Postcards 10 and 11: Pazo de Fonseca
Pazo de Fonseca is located very near Obradoiro Square
and houses the University Main Library. It was constructed by the Archbishop
Alonso de Fonseca in the XVI century. Once there, once can contemplate its
Renaissance façade, its cloister, its Gothic chapel and a panelled lounge,
which hosts temporary exhibitions.
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| Pazo de Fonseca, cloister |
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| Pazo de Fonseca, library |
Postcard 9: Auditorio de Galicia
The Auditorio de Galicia is the most important auditorium of Galicia. It is an emblematic
and modern building surrounded by an incredible green area with lakes. Its cultural
offer is amazing. In the Auditorio de Galicia you can enjoy ballet,
concerts, drama performances, exhibitions… Besides, it is home to the Galician Philarmonic Orchestra with weekly performances on Thursday evenings.
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| Orquesta sinfónica de Galicia |
Postcard 8: "Las Marías"
Postcard 8 features “Las Marias” or “Two
o´clock”, a bronze sculpture placed at the entrance of Alameda´s Park. It
represents sisters Coralia and Maruxa,
real and popular characters in Santiago during the 60s for their eccentric and
inappropriate clothings and makeup and their regular walks at two o´clock pm.
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| Las Marías |
Postcard 7: Saint James's Day
July 25 is Saint James's Day (Día do Apóstolo Santiago), the biggest festival in Santiago de Compostela. It is celebrated with a light show and fireworks in Obradoiro Square. Locals and visitors gather at the Praza to enjoy the traditional fireworks and display projected on the façade of Santiago's Cathedral.
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| Fuegos Apóstol |
Postcard 6: Praza das Praterías
The Praza das Praterías (Silver Jewels Square) is a monumental square and melting pot of architectural styles at the heart of Santiago's Old Town. Here you will be able to see the South façade of the Cathedral, which is Romanesque as well as the façade of its Renaissance cloister. The fountain of seahorses in the middle of the square is Baroque. The Praza das Praterías was named after the many silversmiths who have had their workshops here since the 17th century.
Postcard 5: The Botafumeiro
The Botafumeiro is one of the Cathedral's most popular emblems. It is a spectacular incensory made of silver-plated grass that weighs 80 kilos! It's used in special religous services.
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| Misa con Botafumeiro |
Postcard 4: The Pórtico da Gloria
The Pórtico da Gloria (12th century) stands as one of the Cathedral's chief beauties. It is a masterwork in Romanesque sculpture and represents a religious scene: Christ surrounded by his apostles, with Saint James in the middle pier.
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| Pórtico de la Gloria |
Postcard 3: Santiago's Old Town
In 1985 the Santiago de Compostela's Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is considered to be a place of special cultural or physical significance.
Postcard 2: Rúa do Vilar
The second postcard we sent features the Rúa do Vilar, an arcaded stone street at the heart of Santiago’s old town, just 15 metres from the cathedral. Some of the most beautiful cafés and jewelry shops can be found here. The street at its most beautiful in the rain when stone glistens! A must-see!!
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| Rúa do Vilar |
Postcard 1: O Camiño Francés (The French Way)
The first postcard we sent shows O Camiño Francés, the most popular of all the pilgrimage routes to Santiago. A typical walk on this route takes at least 4 weeks! It runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles on the Spanish side and then another 780km on to Santiago de Compostela through the major cities of Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos and León.
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