Explorations of a city that has been drawing pilgrims for over a thousand years.
Santiago de Compostela hosts a very important shrine to St. James the Great, one of the apostles. He is said to be buried under the cathedral. Thousands of pilgrims make the journey every year along several routes of the Camino de Santiago, all leading to the cathedral. This has been happening since the 10th century.
Santiago de Compostela is located in the far north-west portion of Spain, in the province of Galicia. Due to its location, the city is easier to get to via Portugal, as it’s only a couple hours drive from Braga. Being that close, I had to visit Santiago.
The old city is also absolutely gorgeous and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It’s giving me Edinburgh vibes.
San Paio de Antealtares, small church attached to a monastery next to the cathedral.
A gorgeous plaza alongside the cathedral (right).
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the ultimate destination for Camino de Santiago pilgrims.
Construction on the current cathedral started in 1075.
It’s a mixture of a bunch of different styles from Romanesque to Baroque.
That altar is something else.
Just look at that ridiculousness.
A fantastic Romanesque archway into a chapel. It once was part of a monastery that was next to the cathedral.
Close up on those carvings.
Down in the crypt below the main altar is the reliquary holding the unconfirmed relics of Saint James.
The symbol of the Camino de Santiago are shells. I like how that was incorporated into this chapel.
The Chapel of the Pillar. A lot going on here.
Cathedral on the left, monastery on the right and a very robust bell tower in the center.
Accidentally found a cloister. The monastery is now a university.
It had some really interesting gargoyles.
ow for day two. Nothing significant about this house, I just loved its garden.
Monastery of San Martiño Pinario, the second largest in Spain.
San Martiño Pinario, the monastery’s church and entrance to its museum.
Another fantastic cloister.
A hidden door through an altar. That’s a new one for me.
A gorgeous church with a choir over the main door.
The chapels in this church are amazing.
The main altar is stunning.
The choir behind the altar is even more stunning.
The choir stalls are covered with intricate carvings.
San Domingos de Bonaval, a former convent church now used for a museum.
A mix of Romanesque and Gothic.
A very large side chapel.
Where the main altar once was.
A knight’s tomb near where the main altar was.
I cannot get enough of Romanesque capitals.
Santiago is such a cute city.
Now that’s an old one.
Fantastic views of the cathedral from Parque da Alameda.
Santiago de Compostela is a fantastic city full of gorgeous churches and wonderful museums. If you find yourself in Braga, take a drive north to Santiago, or hop on a train.
Tune in for my next update where I explore another gorgeous cathedral and a city on the border!
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Start at the beginning of this adventure!
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