SANTIAGO

Obradoiro Square
Obradoiro Square

Santiago de Compostela is a city in the Galician province of La Coruña. Its importance is mainly due to it being the Archbishopric and head of the University district in all of Galicia. The origins of the city date back to the discovery of the Apostle Santiago's tomb in the year 813, during the kingdom of Alfonso II el Casto (the Chaste). The Episcopal headquarters at Iria (Padrón) were moved to Santiago when the discovery of the Apostle's tomb was made and the city was born under its protection. After the approval of the Galician Statute of Autonomy (1981) Santiago the Compostela was chosen to be the capital of the Galician Autonomous Community. The Basilica started to be built in the XIth century. The pilgrimage to the Basilica has been constant throughout the years and one of Santiago's symbolic elements since the Middle Ages. The pilgrimages have attracted visitors from the entire world through the centuries and given life to the city that as a place of pilgrimage surpasses in number even Rome.

Santiago is not only a city of commerce and tourism but also counts with an important mechanic and timber industry as well as being a craftsmanship producer, mainly silversmith and gold work.

Places of interest

Among the various monuments found in Santiago de Compostela the Cathedral stands out, of Romanesque-Byzantine style and made up by three naves with 25 chapels. The main chapel is located over the crypt where the Apostle's and his disciple's tombs are. Moreover, the cathedral has three façades: the Obradoiro, where the Pórtico de la Gloria (Portico of Glory) is located, the façade of Platerías and that of Azabachería. The Plaza de España (Square) is surrounded by magnificent buildings (not only the Cathedral): you can enjoy the view of the Seminario de Confesores (Seminary of Confessors), nowadays the City Hall, the ancient Hospital del Rey (Hospital of the King), nowadays the Reyes Católicos Hostel and the Colegio de San Jerónimo (School). Other monumental buildings in the city are: the University, the Colegio de Fonseca (Pharmacy School), the Monastery of San Martin de Pinario (Conciliar Seminary), the Church of Santa María Salomé, the Convents of Santo Domingo, Santa Susana and San Lorenzo and the Collegiate Church of the Sar, noteworthy example of the Galician Romanesque. Among Santiago's emblematic streets the following stand out: rúas (streets) of Villar and Nueva, of Franco, Troya, Brillares or the squares of Platerías and of the Literarios.

Tours around

Padrón is the ancient Iria Flavia of the Antonian itinerary and the town where the worldwide known Literature Nobel Prize, Camilo José Cela, was born. It is also the seat of the Camilo José Cela Foundation. Forests and different types of crops surround this municipality of La Coruña, by the Arosa estuary. Its main economic support comes from the fishing of salmons and trouts at the Ulla river. The town is very attractive for visitors. Among its monuments the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria of Iria Flavia, in whose cemetery Rosalia de Castro (another local writer of worldwide fame) was buried, stands out. The Fountain del Carmen at the Convent del Carmen, the Monastery of Herbón, the Romanesque Church of Herbón, the Parrish Church of Padrón, the House-Museum of Rosalia de Castro, the Gardens of Padrón, declared to be National Artistic Monument, the John Trulook Railway Museum, part of the Camilo José Cela Foundation, the Espolón Promenade and the typical Galician Pazos (Galician country houses), that of the Bishop of Quito and that of Retén.

Noya is a municipality of la Coruña very close to Muros and of great tourist interest for its beaches and the beauty of its estuary. It is full of tin and tungsten mines and forestry industries. Noya offers other interests to its visitors: the Medieval Town and its cemetery, also from the Middle Ages, the Gothic Houses that give the city an aristocratic appearance, the Church of Santa María "A Nova", where the Museum of Tombstones is located, the Church of San Marín and the Monastery of Toxosoutos. In the neighbouring area of Noya the Dolmens of "Cova da Moura" and "Arca do Barbanza" are treasures that should not be missed.

Links:

Services Directory

Hotels:

HOTEL MELIÁ ARAGUANEY *****
Alfredo Brañas 5
Santiago
+34981595900
80 rooms

HOTEL COMPOSTELA ****
Hórreo 1
Santiago
+34981585700
99 rooms

HOTEL HESPERIA GELMÍREZ ***
Hórreo 92
Santiago
+34981561100
138 rooms

HOTEL HUSA CIUDAD DE COMPOSTELA ***
Avenida de Lugo 213
Santiago
+34981569320
30 rooms

HOTEL HUSA SANTIAGO APÓSTOL ***
Cuesta de San Marcos 1
Santiago
+34981557155
100 rooms

Museums:

GALICIAN CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART
(CENTRO GALLEGO DE ARTE CONTEMPORÁNEO)
Ramón María del Valle Inclán
981546619
Visiting Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 11-20 h.
Closed on Mondays.
www.cgac.org

GALICIAN PEOPLE MUSEUM
(MUSEO DO POBO GALEGO)
San Domingo de Barnaval s/n
981583620
Visiting Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10-14 h., 16-20 h.
Closed on Sundays.
www.museodopobo.es

CATHEDRAL MUSEUM
(MUSEO DE LA CATEDRAL)
Plaza do Obradoiro
981581155
Visiting Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10.30-13.30 h., 16-21.30 h.
Sundays and public holidays: 10.30-13.30 h., 16-19.30 h.

PILGRIMAGES MUSEUM
(MUSEO DE LAS PEREGRINACIONES)
Rúa San Miguel 4
981581518
Visiting Hours: Tuesday to Friday: 10-20 h.
Saturdays: 10-13.30 h., 17-20 h.
Sundays: 10-13.30 h.
Admission Fees: General: 2.40 €
Reduced: 1.20 €
Free: Saturday afternoons, Sundays, citizens under 18, senior citizens over 65 and unemployed.

COLLEGIATE CHURCH OF THE SAR
(COLEXIATA DE SAR)
Rúa de Sar s/n
981562891
Visiting Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10-13 h., 16-19 h.

Restaurants:

MONCHO VILAS
Adress: Avenida de Villagarcía 21, Santiago
Telephone: 981598387
Price: 36 €

DON GAIFEROS
Adress: Rúa Nova 23
Telephone: 981583894
Price: 34 €

FORNOS
Adress: Hórreo 24, Santiago
Telephone: 981565721
Menu: 21 €
Price: 30 €

TOÑI VICENTE
Adress: Rosalía de Castro 24, Santiago
Telephone: 981594100
Menu: 42 €
Price: 48 €

Transports:

BUS:

Bus Station
San Cayetano s/n
Santiago
981587700

Main destinations from Santiago de Compostela: Madrid, Gijón, Bilbao, Irún, Barcelona, La Coruña, Lugo, Orense, Pontevedra, Ferrol, Vigo.

TRAINS:

Train Station
Rúa do Hórreo
Santiago
981596050

Main destinations from Santiago de Compostela: La Coruña, Albacete, Alicante, Ávila, Bilbao, Burgos, León, Madrid, Orense, Palencia, Pontevedra, San Sebastián, Vigo, Vitoria, Zamora.

TAXIS:

Avenida de Figueroa Taxi Stop 981585970
Eurotaxi 670505154

Emergency:

Cruz Roja (Red Cross) 981222222
Emergencies 981561006
Provincial Hospital 981521100
Fundación Pública Hospital Médico Quirúrgico Provincial 981951500
(Public Foundation, Provincial Medical and Surgical Hospital)
Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago 981540000
(University Hospital of Santiago)