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Santiago Travel Guide

Santiago Di Comp.

Airport Information

Santiago de Compostela Airport is situated 12 Km outside of Santiago city. There is a bus connection to the city centre from outside the terminal building, operated by Freire S.L; the journey time is 20 minutes and a ticket costs €3.00. Nearby main towns include La Coruna, Vigo, Pontevedra and Leon.

Places to see

Activities

The End of the Road

Santiago is a city made of stone with a cosmopolitan centre visited by countless people from all over the world who have been lured by the magic of the Road to Santiago. The Cathedral and the surrounding areas, including the beautiful squares of Obradoiro and Quintana, are the main meeting points for visitors. From here visitors can also reach Fisterra, "the cape that marks the end of the known world", the rugged Costa da Morte or the peaceful waters in the Rías Baixas. All of this with a myriad of original and excellent dishes to choose from.

Attractions

The City of Culture of Galicia

People coming to Santiago de Compostela have the chance to enjoy one of the most interesting architectural sites in the world since January 2011. The "City of Culture of Galicia" is a complex of buildings and facilities designed by architect Peter Eisenman. All of these structures have been built with the shape of a giant scallop – St James’ symbol – which looks over the capital of Galicia from Mount Gaiás. Originally conceived as a great centre for culture, knowledge and creativity, this architectural masterpiece is a very good reason to visit Compostela.

Restaurants

The best seafood in the world

In Santiago de Compostela and all of Galicia, the visitor will get the chance to try the best seafood in the world. Galician coasts hide tasteful spider crabs, velvet crabs, barnacles, oysters, lobsters... which may be served in traditional unique restaurants or cooked in any of the nine restaurants, which have been awarded with a Michelin star in the region. Seafood perfectly combines with white and red wines from any of the five protected denominations of origin in Galicia: Monterrei, Rías Baixas, Ribeira Sacra, Ribeiro and Valdeorras.

Shopping

Fashion and Handicrafts

Galicia is the home of the Fashion Emporium Zara and designers like Adolfo Domínguez, Purificación García o Roberto Verino. Santiago de Compostela or cities like Corunna, Lugo, Ourense, Pontevedra, Vigo and Ferrol are excellent places to go shopping for clothes in small boutiques or shopping malls. In Galicia, modernity coexists with the traditional so any visitor will have the chance to buy charming handicrafts in the historic quarters of its cities and towns.

Top 5 Things to Do

The City of Santiago de Compostela and Cathedral

Santiago de Compostela, World Heritage City and capital of Galicia, is also the final landmark on the St. James pilgrimage route. Centuries of splendour and development have left us an urban layout where we find the medieval Christian heritage mixed with monumental Baroque buildings. The Cathedral of Santiago is the end of the pilgrim's journey and this monument alone justifies the trip. A multitude of architectural styles meet in this mainly Romanesque building. Due to multiple extensions, the cathedral increased by Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical styles over the years, since construction commenced in the year 1075. The main entrance "Portico de la Gloria" hosts hundreds of figures representing the Apocalypse, including the figure of St. James appearing in the middle, welcoming the pilgrims.

Santiago de Compostela

Centre of Contemporary Art in Galicia (CGAC)

Designed by Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza , this impressive building represents a balance group of buildings where the tradition and modernity of the city come together. You can enjoy some of the best views of the old town of Compostela from the balconies of this unique construction. Inside, along with the Arco Foundation collection, you can see exhibits by contemporary Galician artists and a large and varied number of temporary modern exhibitions.

Contemporary Art

The University - Faculty of Geography and History

Built in the 18th century, the University building has been extended several times, even though today it only houses the Faculty of Geography and History. Designed by Melchor de Prado, the newest version of the building was completed towards the end of the 18th century although another floor was added at a later stage when the faculty hosted a Jesuit college. Today, it is one of the most magnificent buildings of the University of Compostela. The rooms to be visited include the Central Hall (decorated with frescoes by Fenollera and Gonzalez), the Rectory and the Libraries. As well as housing the Faculty of Geography and History, the Institute for Galician Language is based here.

The University

Pilgrimage Museum

This museum, divided into three floors and eight rooms, represents a tribute to the Apostle and the pilgrims who come to visit him. It explains the importance of the pilgrimage to Santiago and the development of pilgrimage routes in the middle ages, especially in the Europe. In eight rooms, the visitor can see through images, objects, and documents, the origin of the Jacobean cult and the development of this phenomenon that are pilgrimages. One can learn the gradual configuration of the different routes and the influence of the pilgrimage on the artistic development of the craft designs in Santiago de Compostela.

Santa Maria la Real de Sar Church

The outstanding features of this church, built in the 12th century, are the little tower on the facade and the strong walls, built between the 17th and 18th centuries. It has a basilica plan with three naves separated by opposed columns which are decorated with vegetable motifs. The sanctuary of the church has three apses. Inside, the light comes from the openings on the side and the rose window placed the facade.