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