Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is Galicia's most popular city for tourism. The city's origin dates back 800 years and it has a famous cathedral, said to hold the body of the apostle Saint James.

Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia and is situated in the la Coruna province. It is also famous for been the destination for one of the worlds most popular pilgrimages, the Camino or Way of Saint James. This event has several starting points across Galicia and beyond, with many of the walkers covering several hundred kilometres before they reach the cathedral.

The city gets is name from a vision, experienced by a hermit, who saw a field of lights above what was later discovered to be the original spot of Saint James' grave. Compostela means star field.

Although many of the city's visitors are completing their pilgrimage, most are there to see Santiago de Compostela's heritage, mainly in the form of its architecture in the old town. Although the cathedral is outstanding, it is only one of many large and impressive buildings. Most of these structures are located on, or close to, a large courtyard that sits directly in front of the cathedral. This area is always busy and has numerous side streets, squares and shopping/eating areas running from it. It also has the main entrance to the cathedral and is overlooked by a number of other important buildings.

In addition to the sights that are openly on display, the city also has several museums and is well known for its gastronomy and out door cafe culture. There are also several tourist offices where you can obtain maps, guide books and even arrange a city tour.

Most tourists to Galicia base their visit around Santiago de Compostela and it has become a popular destination for Europeans taking a weekend break. It is also a city that has an all season appeal.

The photographs on this page show (top to bottom), a section of the cathedral, a museum and a palace on the main courtyard opposite the cathedral.

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