Things to do in Santiago De Compostela
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Catedral de Santiago de Compostela
The grand heart of Santiago, the cathedral soars above the city centre in a splendid jumble of moss-covered spires and statues. Though Galicia's grandest monument was built piecemeal through the centuries, its beauty is only enhanced by the mix of Romanesque, baroque and Gothic flourishes. What you see today is actually the fourth church to stand on this spot. The bulk of it was built between 1075 and 1211, in Romanesque style, with a traditional Latin-cross layout and three naves. Much of the 'bunting' (the domes, statues and endless trimmings) came later. The cathedral's artistic and architectural riches fill guidebooks of their own (a worthwhile investment at around €7…
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Casa Marcelo
Eating is an occasion at this mod-rustic gourmet dining den just down the hill from Praza do Obradoiro. A different five-course creative feast is prepared daily, with specialties like cockles with mango and pepper, and with the kitchen in full view.
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La Bodeguilla de San Roque
Just northeast of the old town, this busy two-storey restaurant serves an eclectic range of excellent dishes ranging from salads and scrambled eggs to Galician veal fillet or plates of cheeses, sausages or ham.
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Museo da Catedral
The many-roomed Museo da Catedral, entered to the right of the cathedral's Obradoiro facade, spreads over four floors and includes the cathedral's large 16th-century, Gothic/plateresque cloister. You'll see Maestro Mateo's original stone choir (destroyed in 1603 but recently pieced back together), rooms of tapestries including a set from designs by Goya, an impressive collection of religious art (including the botafumeiro, in the second-floor library), the lavishly decorated 18th-century sala capitular (chapter house), and, off the cloister, the treasury and the Panteón de Reyes, which contains tombs of kings of medieval León. The museum ticket also covers the crypt benea…
reviewed
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Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela
The grand heart of Santiago, the cathedral soars above the city centre in a splendid jumble of moss-covered spires and statues. Though Galicia's grandest monument was built piecemeal through the centuries, its beauty is only enhanced by the enticing mix of Romanesque, baroque and Gothic flourishes. What you see before you is actually the fourth church to stand on this spot. The bulk of it was built between 1075 and 1211, in Romanesque style with a traditional Latin-cross layout and three naves. Much of the 'bunting' (the domes, statues and endless trimmings) came later. Its artistic and architectural riches fill guidebooks of their own; you'd need days to see it all.
reviewed
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Catedral del Apóstol
Anyone who has journeyed along the Camino de Santiago will hardly be disappointed on finally entering Praza do Obradoiro to behold the lavish baroque façade of the Catedral del Apóstol. Before this elaborately festive façade was built in the 18th century, the less overwhelming but artistically unparalleled Pórtico de la Gloria (Galician: Porta da Gloria) - now behind the baroque façade - was the first scene to greet weary pilgrims.
The bulk of the cathedral was built between 1075 and 1211, in Romanesque style, and the Pórtico de la Gloria was its original façade. Much of the 'bunting' (the domes, statues and endless flourishes) came later.
reviewed
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Mosteiro de San Paio de Antealtares
Across the plaza from the Puerta Santa is the long, stark wall of the Mosteiro de San Paio de Antealtares, founded by Alfonso II for Benedictine monks to look after St James' relics, and converted to a nunnery in 1499.
Climbing the steps at the top of the plaza you'll find the entrance to the convent, above which stands the beatific figure of the 10th-century Galician child saint San Paio, his throat being slashed in reference to his martyrdom in Córdoba. Keep an eye out for the sacred art museum, containing the original alter raised over the Santiago relics.
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A Curtidoría
Understatedly stylish and a favourite lunch spot with locals, A Curtidoría overlooks four streets from its two dining rooms and specialises in inventive but uncomplicated fish, meat and rice dishes like crab-stuffed peppers, grilled turbot with glazed vegies or entrecote with wild mushroom sauce. It offers a number of vegetarian dishes and a menu for celiacs, and the good menú del día (€12) is also available Monday to Wednesday evenings.
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Cathedral Rooftop Tour
For an unforgettable bird's-eye view of the city, take the cathedral rooftop tour organised by the Museo da Catedral. This tour is the only way to visit the Gothic Pazo de Xelmírez (1120), where the main banquet hall is adorned with exquisite little wall busts depicting feasters, musicians, kings and jugglers.
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Mosteiro de San Martiño Pinario Church
The huge Benedictine Mosteiro de San Martiño Pinario, a seminary that's closed to the public except in summer, when it opens as a hostal. The monastery's elaborate baroque church now operates as a museum featuring the beautifully carved Renaissance choir stalls originally used in the cathedral.
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Praza do Obradoiro
Praza do Obradoiro, to which most arriving Camino pilgrims instinctively find their way, earned its name from the stonemasons’ workshops set up here while Catedral de Santiago de Compostela was being built. Along the western side of the square is the elegant 18th-century Pazo de Raxoi, now the city hall.
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Praza das Praterías
Praza das Praterías is marked with the Fuente de los Caballos (1829) fountain, with Catedral de Santiago de Compostela's south facade at the top of the steps. Curiously, the Casa do Cabildo, facing it on the lower side of the square, is no more than a 3m-deep facade, erected in 1758 to embellish the plaza.
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Sargadelos
Santiago's old town is littered with shops selling handicrafts, including the characteristic local jet or jet-and-silver jewellery, which is beautiful and ornate. You'll find plenty of traditional Galician lace here, too. Sargadelos sells the attractive ceramics made in the Galician village of Sargadelos (near Lugo).
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Restaurante Ó Dezaseis
Wood-beam ceilings and exposed stone walls give an invitingly rustic air to this popular cellar tavern just beyond the northeast edge of the old town. The mixed crowd tucks into specialities like caldeirada de rape y rodaballo (monkfish and turbot casserole) and lacón con grelos (ham with greens).
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Discoteca Liberty
A lot more late drinking and dancing goes on in the new town. People generally frequent the disco-pubs along Rúa da República Arxentina or rowdy Rúa Nova de Abaixo before hitting one of the evergreen discos like the cavernous Discoteca Liberty , which gets going around 04:00 on weekends.
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Museo de Arte Sacra
The Museo de Arte Sacra contains the original altar raised over Santiago relics. The church itself is of relatively simple design, with the exception of its main altar, a frenzy of gilded baroque. You can stop by in the evening to hear the nuns singing vespers.
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Colexiata de Santa María do Sar
About 1km south of the old town along Rúa do Patio de Madres stands, precariously (it suffers a pronounced tilt), the Romanesque Colexiata de Santa María do Sar. Part of the beautiful cloister can still be admired and there's a small museum, mainly of Romanesque sculpture.
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Galicia Dixital
Galicia Dixital occupies the left flank of Mosteiro de San Martiño Pinario. It is full of interactive audiovisual fun like a simulated roller-coaster ride over Santiago’s rooftops and an underwater adventure off the Galician coast.
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Colexio de Fonseca
Located south of Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, and in the cafe-lined Praza de Fonseca, the Colexio de Fonseca with a beautiful Renaissance courtyard and exhibition gallery was the original seat of Santiago’s university (founded in 1495).
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A Taberna do Bispo
Tantalising tapas are arrayed along the bar's length, from shrimp brochettes to eels in garlic sauce, and you can order all sorts of goodies like montaditos (small open sandwiches) of solomillo (pork sirloin) with bacon, cheese and dates.
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Mesón Ó 42
With a solid list of favourite local raciones like empanadas (pies), shellfish, octopus and tortillas, as well as fish, meat and rice dishes, this popular place stands out from the crowd with its well-prepared food and good service.
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Compostur
The city's official tour operator offers a range of two-hour walking tours in English and/or Spanish that give a fascinating glimpse into the stories behind Santiago's old stone walls. Get information on current offerings at the city's tourist office, where the walks start. A general old-town tour in English (adult/child €10/5) leaves at 1pm Tuesday and Saturday from June to October and 1pm Sunday in other months. Other options include a gastronomic tour, a convents tour and a nocturnal tour.
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Full Day Tour to The Coast of Death and Cape Finisterre
10 hours (Departs Santiago de Compostela, Spain)
by Viator
Discover the wild and unspoilt beauty of the Galicia region on a day trip from Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre. A three-course lunch is included in this fu…Not LP reviewed
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Modus Vivendi
A Santiago classic, this atmospheric pub in the stables of an 18th-century mansion attracts all types and hosts occasional DJs, live music and exhibitions. It's reckoned to be Galicia's oldest 'pub' (since 1972).
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