Santiago de Compostela Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Santiago de Compostela is in Galicia, Spain.
Contents |
Get in
The traditional way of getting to Santiago de Compostela is by walking about 780 km from St. Jean Pied-de-Port in France, on the Way of St. James. Try it, it's great! It is just as tradtional to arrive on horseback, though considerably more difficult in terms of facilities. Cycling is also popular, but by far the greatest number of travellers (alas) arrive by coach, or only walk the last 100 km.
Get around
Walking (again).
See
The supposed burial place of Saint James, brother of John, Santiago de Compostela has been a site of pilgrimage for over a thousand years.
The tomb of Santiago ("Saint James") is located under the Cathedral. On regular occasions the church shows its "Botafumeiro", a huge solid silver incense burner which is swung from the ceiling of the church by a team of energetic monks hauling on ropes.
The Obradoiro Square which is bordered by the Cathedral, the Hostal, the Axuntamento and the Colexio de Fonseca (which houses the offices of the University's Rector or President and has a lovely Romanesque archway), got its name because when the Cathedral was being built, workers were set up withe their tools and materials in the area.
Attached to the Cathedral is the Palacio de Xelmírez and there is also a museum in the Cathedral which is worth visiting.
O Museu do Pobo Galego is located in the Bonaval Church and is the burial site for several important Galician figures, o Panteón dos Galegos Ilustres. The museum has a ncie assortment of objects that are illustrative of Galician popular culture, much of it now a thing of the past.
Do
With your "credencial" that proves you walked at least the last 100km get a diploma that proves you walked. In the daily ceremony in the Cathedral at 12 it will be said how many people arrived and their country of origin.
Buy
The town is now a very important center for pilgrims. You can find all sorts of souvenirs related to "the camino": walking sticks, the typical water-bottles, and the shells that are typical for the camino.
Eat
Galicia is known for "Pulpos" or cooked octopus. In general there are a lot of restaurants selling fish and seafood ranging from every price category. The local cheeses should also be sampled, as well as delicious cakes like the "Torta de Santiago". Expect long queues at popular pilgrim eating places. However, there are a number of places which are less kown and the food may be even better.
Drink
Try the Albariño wine. A good choice
Sleep
Just outside of Santiago is a small town called "Monte do Gozo". Some Pilgrims stop there before entering the city. It's a huge center and has almost 2000 beds. There is a frequent busline that will take you to walking distance of the town center.
People with a bigger budget can stay in the luxury "Hotel Dos Reis Católicos", the former medieval pilgrim hostel, situated on the same square, O Obradoiro, as the cathedral. It is owned by the Paradores group, a large hotel-chain which operates hotels exclusively in historic buildings.
Get out
70km out of Santiago is the town called Finisterre. Before the Americas were discovered, people believed this was the end of the world (finis = end; terra = earth)
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