Santiago de Compostela - Santiago di Compostela

Santiago de Compostela (in Spanish and in Galician, Santiago de Compostela, in ArabicShant Ya'qūb, also known in Italian as St. James of Compostella) is a city of the Galicia in Spain.

To know

Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia. Located in the province of Coruña, was in 2000 the European capital of culture. Its notoriety is due to the fact that for over a millennium it has been, according to Christian tradition, the seat of the mortal remains of James the Greater, apostle of Jesus. The mortal remains of the apostle have been preserved for centuries in the majestic cathedral built for this purpose. and final stage of the "Camino de Santiago de Compostela", traveled by pilgrims from all over the world. Along with the famous pilgrimage route, Santiago became a World Heritage Site in 1985. The city is also home to a university founded 500 years ago.

When to go

Climatically it is one of the most rainy European cities; this is due to the wind coming from the Atlantic which contrasts with the surrounding mountains.

Background

Santiago de Compostela was destroyed in 997 by the Muslim army of Almanzor and then rebuilt by Bermudo II. But it was Bishop Diego Xelmírez who began the transformation of the city into a place of worship and pilgrimage, ending the construction of the Cathedral begun in 1075 enriching it with various relics, becoming since the Middle Ages one of the most important cultural centers and pilgrimage destinations in the whole Christianity.

Around 1170 the Order of Santiago was born, with the aim of protecting the pilgrims who went to the famous sanctuary from all over Europe.In the 14th century the Order split into a Spanish and a Portuguese branch, each with its own grand master .

The Order grew over the years in importance and prestige, until Pope Adrian VI united the Order to the Crown of Spain, declaring the King Grand Master, and entrusting jurisdiction over various Commendas of Spain to a council chosen by the knights.

On 23 October 1987 the Council of Europe recognized the importance of the religious and cultural paths that cross theEurope to reach Santiago de Compostela by declaring the routes "European itinerary of devotion" and adequately financing all the initiatives to report in a convenient way "el camino de Santiago".

How to orient yourself

How to get

By plane

• 42.896333-8.4151451 Santiago de Compostela Airport (IATA: SCQ). The city has an airport that can be reached from Orio al Serio thanks to Ryanair.  

On the train

• 42.8702-8.545952 Santiago de Compostela station.  

By bus

• 42.8876-8.533283 Intercity bus station (Estación de Autobuses de Santiago Compostela), Praza de Camilo Díaz Baliño, 2, ☎ 34 981 54 24 16. 

How to get around

What see

Religious architectures

• 42.8806-8.54461 Santiago de Compostela Cathedral (Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Santiago de Compostela). The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint James of Compostela, or more simply Cathedral of Saint James of Compostela, is the mother church of the archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela, a minor basilica and one of the largest Catholic sanctuaries in the world; inside, in the crypt, the faithful venerate the relics of the apostle Santiago or Maior / el Mayor (Saint James the Greater), patron saint of Spain. The Cathedral of Santiago is the destination of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, a historic pilgrimage of medieval origin. In the Friday mass you can witness the spectacular swaying of the censer, in fact on this day the rite is paid for by the municipality. On the other days, it is possible to agree on an adequate donation (over € 400) or to hope that others have done so. At the beginning of Mass it is announced whether the botafumeiro will be lit or not at the end of the ritual. 
• 42.881944-8.5444442 Monastery of San Martino Pinario (Monasterio de San Martín Pinario), Praza da Inmaculada, 5. Baroque monastery with an adjoining sacred art museum.  
• 42.871915-8.5372133 Colegiata de Santa Maria del Sar (Colexiata de Santa María in Real do Sar), Rúa de Sar, ☎ 34 981 56 28 91.  
• 42.880556-8.5430564 Monasterio de San Pelayo de Antealtares (Convent of San Paio de Antealtares), Rúa de San Paio de Antealtares, 23.  
• 42.883611-8.5452785 Convent of San Francisco (Convent of San Francisco do Val de Deus).  
• 42.880639-8.546756 Church of San Fruttuoso (Igrexa de San Froitoso).  
• 42.881667-8.5418067 Capela de Ánimas.  

Civil architectures

• 42.880556-8.5461118 Rajoy Palace (Palacio de Rajoy / Pazo de Raxoi), Praza do Obradoiro. Neoclassical palace designed by the French architect Carlos Lemaur and completed in 1776, today the seat of the city council.  
• 42.879444-8.5452789 Fonseca Palace (Pazo de Fonseca).  
• 42.879722-8.54444410 House of the Cabildo (Casa do Cabido), Platerías square. Tue-Sat 10: 00-15: 45, 20: 00-23: 30, Sun 10: 00-16: 00. A 1758 palace, considered one of the best examples of Galician Baroque. It belonged to the bishop who used it as a council chamber but in 1855 it passed into private hands after the expropriation of ecclesiastical assets decreed by the government.

In 2011 it was taken over by a consortium which restored it, adapting it to a space for temporary exhibitions.  

• 42.88-8.54555611 Colegio de San Jerónimo (Colexio de San Xerome).  
• 42.881111-8.54527812 Palacio de Gelmírez (Pazo de Xelmírez), Praza do Obradoiro.  
• 42.87724-8.5468713 As dúas Marías.  

Museums

• 42.883056-8.53972214 Galician Center of Contemporary Art, Rúa de Ramón del Valle Inclán, 2.  
• 42.882778-8.53888915 Museo del Pueblo Gallego, Costa de San Domingos, s / n, ☎ 34 981 58 36 20. Tue-Sat 10: 30-14 and 16-19: 30, Sun 11: 00-14: 00. Museum dedicated to the history, culture and folklore of Galicia, housed in a 13th century convent.  
• 42.879933-8.54409216 Pilgrimage and Santiago Museum (Museo de las Peregrinaciones y de Santiago / Museo das Peregrinacións e de Santiago), Praza das Praterías, 2, ☎ 34 881 86 73 15. Tue-Fri 09: 30–20: 30, Sat 11: 00–19: 30, Sun 10: 15–14: 45.  
• 42.881439-8.54330717 Casa de la Troya Museum, Rúa da Troia, 5, ☎ 34 981 58 51 59. Thu-Sat 11: 00–14: 00 and 16: 00–20: 00, Sun 11: 00–02: 00. 

Parks and gardens

• Parque de San Domingos de Bonaval (Parque de Santo Domingo de Bonaval), Cuesta San Domingos, 3. Mon-Sun 08: 00-23: 00.  

Archaeological sites

• 42.860833-8.57305618 Castillo de la Rocha Forte (Castelo da Rocha Forte).  

Events and parties

• John's night (Feast of San Xoán). June 23. As in the rest of Galicia, on St John's Eve bonfires are lit at various points in the center and participants jump on them to ward off the evil eye and evil spirits. Outdoor roasted sardines are offered accompanied by red wine and, of course, there is lots of music and fun. 
• Feasts from the Apostle Santiago (Festas do Apóstolo Santiago). July. Annual festival that lasts the entire second half of July. The highlight it consists of the fireworks and the fireworks display on the night of July 24 during which a model of the cathedral is burned. The program is very varied; every evening folkloric dance shows or theatrical performances or concerts of all kinds are set up. Musical bands run through the streets of the center. The end of the festival is the evening of July 31st which ends with fireworks.  
• Jacobean holy year (Ano Santo Xacobeo). July. It is celebrated the year in which July 25 falls on a Sunday. This coincidence occurs on a regular basis of 6, 5, 6 and 11 years and leads to an exceptional influx of pilgrims. The first Jacobean Jubilee Year was established by Pope Callixtus II in 1122 for 1126. The last Jacobean year was 2010, while the next will be 2021 and 2027.  

What to do

Shopping

How to have fun

Shows

• 42.870162-8.525671 City of Galician culture (Ciudad de la Cultura de Galicia), Mount Gaiás, s / n, ☎ 34 881 99 75 65.  
• 42.882767-8.5160142 Estadio Vero Boquete de San Lázaro, Av. De Fernando de Casas Novoa, 20.  

Night clubs

• 42.87673-8.543373 Capitol room, Rúa de Concepción Arenal, 5, ☎ 34 981 57 43 99. 
• 42.87375-8.545274 Blaster, Rúa da República Arxentina, 6. Thu-Sun 00: 00–06: 30. Dance club. 
• 42.87461-8.54235 Ruta nightclub, Rúa de Curros Enríquez, 3, ☎ 34 654 20 10 41. Thu-Sun 03: 00–05: 30. 
• Maycar nightclub, Rúa do Doutor Teixeiro, 2. 
• Facultad, Rúa de Alfredo Brañas, 6. Dance club 
• Gabanna Disco, Rúa da República Arxentina, 24. 
• Dado Dadá Jazz Club, Rúa de Alfredo Brañas, 19. 
• 42.87785-8.546166 Garoa Pub, Avenida de Figueroa, 3, ☎ 34 981 55 73 11. Mon-Sun 16: 00–04: 00. 
• ^{[link not working]}Casa das Crechas, Vía Sacra, 3. Pub. 
• Modus Vivendi Pub, Praza de Feixo, 1. 
• 42.87809-8.542917 At Novena Porta, Rúa do Cardeal Payá, 3, ☎ 34 616 71 03 65. Mon-Thu 08: 00–02: 30, Fri-Sun 16: 00–02: 30. Sports pub. 
• Dr Lois, Rúa de Xelmírez, 25. Pub. 
• Makumba, Rúa de Fray Rosendo Salvado, 16. 

Where to eat

Moderate prices

• 42.88118-8.54191 Manolo house, Plaza de Cervantes, ☎ 34 981 58 29 50. Mon-Sun 13: 00-16: 00 and 19: 30-23: 30. Galician cuisine. 
• 42.88094-8.546742 Paredes House, Carretas, 1 (Behind the large square at the back of the cathedral.), ☎ 34 981 557 102. It offers (in addition to the normal menu) two set menus with first and second courses, desserts of your choice plus wine or water and coffee for € 9 and € 12 (August 2015). Tue-Sun 06: 30–00: 00. They have great meat, while the fish is not excellent. The desserts are packaged (e.g. puddings in a jar). Its strengths are price and central location. 

Average prices

• 42.87842-8.545443 El Papatorio, Rúa do Franco, 20, ☎ 34 981 06 83 01. Mon-Sun 12: 00–01: 00. 

Where stay

Moderate prices

• 42.87518-8.556551 Hospedería Vía Lucis, José María Suárez Núñez, 6 (A 10-minute walk from the historic center, within a huge university campus), ☎ 34 981 599 637, 34 981 568 521, @[email protected]. About € 20 for a bed in rooms for 2/3 people with bathroom included and breakfast not included. Breakfast costs € 4 but is not abundant (August 2015). It has the particularity of having been built on a former convent, preserving its entire structure. It has an internal area in which to park for free whose gate is closed at night. The keys are provided to return after 10pm, because there is no night reception service. 

Average prices

• 42.87551-8.544832 Nest Style Santiago (Maycar hotels), Rúa do Doutor Teixeiro, 15 (300 meters from the cathedral), ☎ 34 981 563 444, fax: 34 981 589 653, @[email protected]. Check in: 12:00, check-out: 00:00. Central hotel with all comforts. 
• 42.87402-8.544913 Gelmirez hotels, Rúa do Hórreo, 92 (A 10-minute walk from the cathedral and a 3-minute walk from the airport bus stop at the train station), ☎ 34 981 56 11 00. Modern hotel. 

High prices

• 42.88142-8.545954 Parador de Santiago de Compostela, Praza do Obradoiro, 1, ☎ 34 981 58 22 00. 

Safety

How to keep in touch

Around

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Santiago de Compostela
• Commons contains images or other files on Santiago de Compostela

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