About Santiago De Compostela
Santiago de Compostela ensured its place in history as the last leg of the 9th century Saint James Way pilgrimage route.
Santiago de Compostela, the capital of northwest Spain’s Galicia region, is home to the iconic Catedral de Santiago de Compostela which is, according to tradition, the burial place of the biblical James the Apostle who brought the gospel of Christianity to the Iberian Peninsula. For centuries, each pilgrim’s journey culminated with reaching the city and entering the cathedral. In fact, Santiago de Compostela is considered the 3rd most important site of medieval Christianity – taking a back seat only to Jerusalem and Rome. The city’s Old Town, where the cathedral is located, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
The cathedral originally dated back to the 9th century, but was destroyed by the Muslims at the end of the 10th century. It was rebuilt in the 11th century and then expanded and renovated over the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. It has magnificent carved facades which open to the medieval walls of the Old Town, and is a combination of late Baroque styles including numerous towers and statues. Its high ceiling is considered an architectural wonder.
Around the cathedral is Palacio Gelmirez, the bishop's palace, and Hotel de los Reyes Catolicos is an inn established by Spain’s Catholic monarchs, specifically by King Fernando and Queen Isabella, to shelter pilgrims and the sick. Today, it is part of Spain’s National Tourism Paradores which serves visitors to the area.
The Raxoi Manor (Pazo de Raxoi) is an 18th century neoclassical palace near the cathedral which today houses the seat of the city council and the regional government.
Santiago de Compostela is both elegant and sophisticated. Though studded with monasteries, churches, and palaces as well as other well-preserved Gothic architecture, the city is vibrantly alive with many modern attractions, as well. The small streets are full of restaurants, boutiques, and bars that are fun to get lost in, and the Centro Galego de Arte Contemporanea is a center for bold contemporary art located in a spectacular modern building.
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Looking for some interesting things to do in Santiago De Compostela? Here are some recommended attractions and sights for you.
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Attractions in Santiago De Compostela
- Obradoiro Plaza, Santiago de Compostela
- Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
- Old Town, Santiago de Compostela
- Quintana Plaza, Santiago de Compostela
- Hostal dos Reis Catolicos,Santiago de Compostela
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