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Santiago de Compostela

The historic centre of Santiago de Compostela is best explored on foot. Take a stroll down the 12th century streets of Franco, Vilar and Nova and visit the university, the baroque Church of San Agustin and the medieval food hall. Alternatively, sit in the classical squares, which border the cathedral’s façades, and watch the world go by.


The city is renowned for its seafood, available all year round; however, the best time to visit is during the Festival of the Apostle of Saint James, when foods associated with the saint, such as scallops and lobsters, are consumed in abundance. Delicious wines from the region can also be sampled in the many bars which line the old streets.

Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia and once rivalled Jerusalem and Rome in religious importance. This intriguing, ancient city still draws millions of tourists and pilgrims who come to gaze at its many historic sites or gather for the annual Festival of the Apostle of Saint James.

Not surprisingly, it is the atmospheric cathedral that forms the centrepiece of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The cathedral houses a bust of Saint James, and a bizarre local tradition dictates that if cathedral visitors bump their head on the figure they will obtain prudence and wisdom. Other noteworthy buildings include: the university and the monasteries of San Martin Pinario and San Paio de Antealtares, plus the Old Royal Hospital.

There are numerous ancient villages lining the pilgrims’ route to Santiago which are easily visited by car and are well worth a trip. Other places of interest in Galicia include the Costa da Morte, a morbidly-named area of cliffs above the Atlantic, which are home to the ‘end of the world’ lighthouses.

The A-9 motorway from La Coruna is the main route to Santiago, and La Coruna is linked to Madrid by the A-6 road. Two trains to the city leave daily from Madrid; there is also one train a day from Bilbao. There are 10 daily flights from Madrid (one hour), arriving at Santiago Airport, 12kms from town.

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