The first thing that comes to mind when we think of Santiago de Compostela is Christian religion and the associated pilgrimages along the Way of St. James. And while this is undoubtedly an important element of the city’s identity, it is not the only reason why it is worth visiting.
Santiago de Compostela, a city in northwestern Spain, is the capital of the Galicia region and one of the most famous centers of Christian worship. The reason is Saint James the Elder – one of the twelve apostles of Christ, whose body, according to legend, was transported by boat to Spain and buried in the place where the city stands today. For people who speak Spanish, the connection of this figure with the city should come as no surprise, because Santiago is the Spanish equivalent of the name Jacob. The name “compostela” in turn comes from the Latin campus stellae, which means field of stars. What does the starry sky have to do with the city? You will find out everything soon.
Legendary history of the city’s creation
Before you set out to discover the streets of this city, be sure to read about its fascinating history. Although archaeological excavations have revealed traces of a Roman villa in this place, which was built in ancient times, the history of this city does not begin until the 9th century.
The beginnings of the city are associated with a certain legend. In 813, a hermit named Pelagius, following a trail of extremely bright stars in the sky, came across a stone ark, which he asked the local Bishop Theodemir to examine. He considered this matter worth investigating, because he believed in the legend popular at that time, which said that St. James – who died a martyr’s death in Jerusalem – was buried in a stone ark in the areas of the nearby village of Iria Flavia.
The bishop actually discovered a stone tomb with the remains of St. James. He did not fail to inform the King of Asturias himself, Alfonso II, about this extraordinary miracle. The king not only arrived at the place with his entire court and confirmed the existence of the apostle’s tomb, but also declared him the patron of the kingdom, and in the place of the miraculous discovery of the tomb, he ordered the construction of the first church. It was supposed to be a simple temple, protecting the mausoleum from the Roman period. It was around the church that the city began to grow, the foundation of which is dated to 830 AD.
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
History of the Temple
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is by far the most visited landmark in Santiago de Compostela. Since you already know a bit about the beginnings of this place, it’s time to learn a little more about it. The first building of the small temple quickly ceased to be sufficient for the settlers and monks gathering around it. At the end of the 9th century, a church was built in its place, which was destroyed by Muslims after less than 100 years. Fortunately, the temple was not only quickly rebuilt, but it was also decided to build a sizeable Romanesque cathedral next to it. Its construction began in 1075, during the reign of Bishop Diego Peláez. Interestingly, the temple immediately gained the status of a cathedral church. What happened next?
- 1100 – by order of Pope Urban II, the seat of the archbishop was established at the cathedral,
- 1122 – the last stone was laid during the construction of the cathedral, which is clearly stated in the Book of St. James (Liber Sancti Iacobi),
- 1211 – the solemn consecration of the cathedral took place, in which, among others, the king of León himself, Alfonso IX, participated,
- 1495 – a university was founded at the archcathedral, which functions in Santiago de Compostela to this day.
The Interior and Main Sights of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is not only an extraordinary historical monument, but also a masterpiece of architecture and art. Its roof offers a breathtaking panorama of the entire city, and the temple attracts the eye not only with its facade, but also with the 16th-century cloister, which is an integral part of the cathedral, and the 18th-century archbishop’s palace. If you look at the structure from the west, one element will surely catch your eye. We are talking about Pórtico de la Gloria, the Portal of Glory, considered a timeless masterpiece of universal art.
The interior of this temple, in turn, is a real treasure trove of works of art. You will find there 18th-century organs, a sacristy full of precious paintings and an unusual, silver coffin modeled on the Romanesque ones, in which the remains of the martyr are kept. If it is the main altar that encouraged you to stop longer, do not pay attention only to the coffin. The greatest peculiarity of the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is the botafumeiro located at the altar. This huge, 700-year-old censer suspended from the cathedral’s vault weighs 60 kg and measures 160 cm in height. About 40 kg of charcoal and incense are needed to ignite it. The swaying botafumeiro can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h, spreading incense smoke even in the smallest corners of the cathedral.
FUN FACT: The botafumeiro censer was once used during every main Sunday mass, and during the Holy Jacobean Year – every day during the Mass for Pilgrims. Today it can be seen “in action” only 12 times a year.
The Way of St. James – Pilgrimage Route
The first pilgrimages to the saint’s tomb took place as early as the 9th century. However, they had a completely different character than today. They were often treated as an element of rehabilitation – pilgrims imposed them on themselves as penance, or they were ordered by a court sentence.
Medieval pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela were sometimes also an element of atonement and a way to strengthen faith. It happened that entire cities or parishes organized pilgrimages with intentions important for their community (e.g. requests for good crops, the end of drought or the cure of plague).
The peak popularity of the Way of St. James, also known as the Camino de Santiago, occurred between the 11th and 14th centuries. There were years when the pilgrimage route was traveled by as many as a million people or more! This great interest led to Santiago de Compostela being recognized in the 12th century as the third most important holy place for Christians (after Jerusalem and Rome).
Buen camino
The over a thousand-year-old trail of St. James is still very popular today. It attracts not only people of great faith, but also all those who want to experience the adventure of a lifetime, are at a turning point in their lives, or simply want to visit Spain and other European countries in a less conventional way. An additional incentive is the fact that the Camino de Santiago can be traveled in many ways, choosing the route most suitable for you. Among the most popular ones are: Camino Francés, Camino de Fisterra, Camino del Norte, Camino Aragonés, Camino Primitivo and Camino Inglés. The routes leading to Santiago de Compostela can be easily recognized by the marking in the form of a characteristic shell of St. James, which is also a symbol of pilgrims.
When traveling the Way of St. James, you will surely often hear from other pilgrims and locals the greeting “Buen Camino”, which means “Good Way”. Among the more famous people who have made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela are: Charlemagne, Isabella of Castile and St. Francis of Assisi. Pope John Paul II traveled the Camino de Santiago route twice.
Secrets of the city of Santiago de Compostela
Not only the cathedral, but the entire historic center of Santiago de Compostela deserves to be visited. Monasteries, churches and buildings in the traditional style are connected by a network of narrow, old, but extremely charming streets, intertwined here and there with atmospheric squares. The old city, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985, is full of monuments – both religious and secular.
Plaza del Obradoiro
The name of this square probably comes from the stonemason’s workshops that were once located there, which worked on the construction of the Baroque facade of the cathedral. Yes, it is on this square that the majesty of the Cathedral of St. James greets pilgrims. Many believe that this is why it is considered the very center of Santiago de Compostela, but this is not entirely true, because the cathedral is not the only important building surrounding this square.
The Hostal de los Reyes Católicos, a hostel where a large part of the pilgrims stay after a long journey, used to be a hospital for travelers, while the Colegio de San Xerome now houses the university rectorate, and the Palacio de Raxoi serves as the seat of the city hall in Santiago. If you think about it, the square together with the surrounding buildings represents the main poles of life in the capital of Galicia: religion, education, care and administration.
Mercado de Abastos
Want to see a glimpse of local everyday life? Then you can’t miss this colorful market. The predecessor of today’s Mercado de Abastos was the Mercado de la Ciudad, very important for the history of the city, because for the first time it gathered under one roof all the markets scattered around the city. In 1937 it was demolished and in its place was built the Plaza de Abastos with a thriving marketplace, which is today the most important trading place in the whole city. However, the inhabitants of Santiago go there not only for shopping, but also to meet friends or have a glass of wine. No wonder they like to spend time there, because the corridors of Mercado de Abastos, thanks to the wide range of the freshest products, are able to stimulate all five senses.
Other churches of Santiago de Compostela
If you are particularly fascinated by sacred art, you don’t have to rely only on the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Within the old town there are a lot of temples that lovers of this type of architecture will surely like. While walking through the labyrinth of streets, it is worth visiting the Church of San Miguel dos Agros, whose bare facade is decorated with four grooved pillars, and the Baroque Church of San Martín Pinario, attached to the monastery of the same name.
Make sure you don’t miss the Church of San Fiz de Solivio. It is considered the oldest church in Santiago de Compostela. It is said that the famous hermit Pelagius lived there. If you decide to stay there longer, be sure to take a look at the bas-relief from 1316 depicting the Adoration of the Magi.
University of Santiago
We can also find a delightful architectural achievement in the over 500-year-old University building, which annually gathers 33,000 students, both Spanish and international, within its walls. Their presence adds a fresh and joyful character to the city. This is especially evident in the city’s nightlife, which offers a wide range of entertainment for all those interested. It is also worth taking an interest in the unique Library of the University of Santiago, which stores 1,227,796 volumes in its collection, making it the fifth largest library in all of Spain.
Galician Center for Contemporary Art
Just a few steps outside the walls of the old town, you can discover other valuable corners of Santiago. In a fairly modern building, designed by the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, is the Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea, the local Center for Contemporary Art. Inside the museum you can see the collection of the Arco Foundation, as well as temporary exhibitions that are dedicated to the latest artistic trends and express art in the most unexpected form. You will find there works by contemporary Galician, Spanish and even international artists. And from the terraces of this unique museum you can admire one of the best views of the historic center of Santiago de Compostela.
Museum of the People of Galicia
Fascinated by Galician culture? If you go to the Museum of the People of Galicia, you will be even more absorbed, because what you find among the exhibits on display will reveal to you all the secrets of this region. The largest part of the collection is occupied by everyday objects that have been created and used by the people of Galicia since the old days. You will rather not find there unique items, masterpieces or unusual specimens.
The objects presented there tell the story of everyday life of the inhabitants of Galicia, but thanks to this they provide a lot of information about local customs, lifestyle, social structure or beliefs. Dishes, furniture, costumes, instruments, ceramics… The collection currently has over 15,000 exhibits and is constantly growing thanks to the huge amount of donations that are constantly coming in.
Parque Alameda
The Alameda Park, created in the 19th century, is a favorite green space for both tourists and residents of Santiago de Compostela. This peaceful and harmonious area is located in a very good location bordering the historic center. What more could you want? Well, yes, vegetation, but there is no shortage of it in this place either. Huge oaks, chestnut trees and eucalyptus trees provide shade, and pergolas, flower beds, fountains and small ponds please the eye. It is also one of the best viewpoints over the old town.
Green lovers will surely appreciate the fact that this is not the only park in the area. It is also worth visiting, for example, Santo Domingo de Bonaval. Once there was a cemetery in its place, and today it is a place offering excellent conditions for an afternoon of relaxation in the bosom of nature.
Something for gourmands and gluttons
Do you love gastro tourism? Then you will also love Santiago! The capital of the region famous for its seafood offers countless restaurants serving this type of dishes. Among them, of course, octopus reigns, the gastronomic symbol of the whole of Galicia. Don’t forget to try Galician wine, especially that from the Ribeira Sacra region. Are you already waiting for dessert? In Santiago de Compostela you will try the famous Tarta de Santiago, a cake based on almonds, eggs and sugar (all according to the traditional 16th-century recipe), or Piedras de Santiago, delicious chocolates.
