Saturday, August 19, 2017

Santiago de Compostela



One of the day trips from La Coruna is Santiago de Compostela, the capital of the Galicia region of Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Santiago has been a pilgrimage destination for catholics since the 9th century.  

We hopped on the train for the 30-minute ride south and toured the city.  The architecture was impressive and the structures, some dating back to the sixth and seventh century, were incredible.  The line to walk through the cathedral where St James, one of the 12 apostles, is buried was hours long.  Since this was a day trip and Kala was waiting for us back on the boat, we chose to enjoy the views and partake in the areas around Santiago.  
So easy to travel around Spain
Thirty minutes later we were in Santiago de Compostela 
The line for the cathedral started at these doors, went around two buildings and back
Monastery and church of San Martino Pinario
The church office building with the Spanish flag and awesome statue atop
Coat of arms
Spanish relics usually include a large amount of silver
One of my favorite buildings was the Igreja de Sao Frutuoso - Church of San Fructoso - outside the St James Cathedral plaza with four cardinal virtues, prudence, justice, strength and temperance represented on each corner
Hostal dos Reis Catolicos - Opened in 1492 by King Ferdinand and Isabelle (who commissioned Christopher Columbus' voyages).  The oldest operational hotel in the world and some say the most beautiful.
Streets of Santiago
Even the health clinic architecture is impressive in Santiago
Monastery and church of San Martino Pinario
So many beautiful sculptures and statues
Church and convent of San Francisco
Stonework is unbelievable

2 comments:

Tess said...

Wow, impressive statues and architecture. Isn't it great that Spain wasn't on your intended list but you landed there and got to see this? Love the photos and information. And yeah, my health clinic has nothing so spectacular or wonderful to mark its footprint :-)

Baxter, Molly and Kala said...

Thanks Tess! Yes, it is really great we had the opportunity to see Spain...the winds blow you where hey may for a reason.

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