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Overview
Saint Jacques de Compostelle (Santiago de Compostela) in Galicia
on the north-west of Spain;
is a city tailor-made for the wayfarer on the northern Spain. Streets and
squares combine to form a unique, harmonious, tasteful set piece that the city
is awarded the title of World Heritage City by UNESCO in 1984 and in 2000 it was
named European City of Culture.
The city is surrounded by four squares that include; Platerías, Quintana,
Azabachería and Obradoiro that is the city’s hub. The cathedral façade, the
cloister and the Archbishop’s Palace, the five-star parador, Hostal de los Reyes
Católicos, Palacio de Raxoi and Colegio de San Jerónimo in the company of
palaces, monasteries, churches and squares are the best attractions of the town.
Things to Do and See in Saint
Jacques de Compostelle
The places of interest in Saint
Jacques de Compostelle include;
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The Cathedral
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Praza do Obradoiro
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Praza da Quintana
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Praza da Inmaculada/Acibechería
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Convent and Church of San
Domingo de Bonaval Collegiate Church of Santa María La Mayor y Real de Sar
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Museo do Pobo Galego
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Contemporary Galician Art
Centre
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Museo das Peregrinacións
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Museo de Terra Santa (Convent
of San Francisco)
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Casa Museo da Troia
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Museo de Arte Sacra (Sacred
Art)
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Museo da Catedral (Cathedral
Museum)
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Museo Fundación Eugenio
Granell
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Museo da Colexiata Santa
María de Sar
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Museo de Historia Natural
“Luis Iglesias” (Natural History)
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Museo do Colexio Médico
(Campus Sur)
City Tours in Saint Jacques de Compostelle
The city tours to participate and discover the Saint Jacques de Compostelle include;
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Two-hours tours - A Guided tour to the sightseeing
area, Cubiertas de la Catedral, The university’s historical heritage and
City-tour.
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Half day tours - to Pazos and Historical Gardens
and Contemporary architecture.
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1 day tours - A guided tour a Costa da Morte
– Finisterre ; Rías Baixas – Barbanza ; Rías Baixas – Salnés; Ribeira Sacra
– Cañones del Sil - , all-inclusive, organized from Santiago. (Phone:
+34 902 254 040; www.compostelavision.com)
Cuisine ~ What to Eat
Galician cuisine is famous with the shellfish, fish, meat,
vegetables that are all washed down with the best wines. Traditional Galician
dishes include seafood, caldo gallego, shoulder of pork with turnip tops,
octopus á feira, savoury pies, Padrón peppers, soft cheese, filloa and Santiago
tart. Plaza de Abastos is the best market place. The tapas bars offer
great tapas and wine. The traditional fare or nouvelle cuisine with a variety of
exotic dishes and wide range of wines from Albariño and Ribeiro to Godello and
Mencía are the best dining options. As for the wines; Galician wine of
any of the whites and reds carrying a denomination of origin from Ribeiro, Rías
Baixas, Ribeira Sacra, Monterrey and Valdeorras are excellent. As for the
desserts, queso de tetilla that is a Santiago tart or chestnut cake are the
recommendations.
Handicrafts ~ What to Buy
Two of Santiago’s squares are popular.
One is Azabachería that is famous with its articles made from jet
and the other one is Platerías that is famous with its silverware.
Silverware is the towns most popular shopping spot for centuries. Ceramics,
bobbin lace and homemade gastronomic products such as chocolates, queso de
tetilla (soft cheese in the form of a woman’s breast), wines and sweetmeats are
the other popular items to buy.
Cultural Events &
Fiestas in Saint Jacques de Compostelle
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Pilgrimage - Romería
de San Lázaro. Festa das Uñas in March 13
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Holy Week in
March-April
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Galicia Theatre Festival
in the 2nd fortnight in April
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European Dance Encounter
at the end of April
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Book Fair in the week
of April 23
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Fiestas. Ascension in
the week of May 20
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University Theatre Display
in the 2nd fortnight in May
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St. John’s Eve in June
23
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International Galician
Music Festival at the 1st fortnight in July
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Compostela Festival.
Music from all over the world at the end of July
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International Short Film
Festival in July-August
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Festiclown in early
August
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Music in Compostela in
August
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International Ancient
Music Festival at the 2nd fortnight in September
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LIED Cycle in
September-October
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Puppet Festival.
Galicreques at the 1st fortnight in October
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Santirock in early
November
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Magostos in
November
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Cineuropa in November
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Root Music Festival.
Raizames at the 2nd fortnight in December
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Light Opera Festival
in late December
Getting There
Access to
Saint Jacques de Compostelle is
easy. It is located in a central position amid the Autonomous Community of
Galicia’s leading cities of Coruña (57 km), Pontevedra (50 km), Vigo (92 km),
Lugo (105 km) and Ourense (110 km). The city has its own international airport.
Several airlines make cheap flights to Santiago. RYANAIR (www.ryanair.com)
operates to Santiago from London, Frankfurt and Rome. As for the trains, RENFE
has two daily trains operating to
Madrid
and the Portuguese border. There is
also a frequent bus service (Estación Central de Autobuses) to the main cities
and towns of Galicia. |
