Holiday in Santiago de Compostela

What makes Santiago de Compostela special as a destination?

Santiago de Compostela is the spiritual destination for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who walk the Camino de Santiago each year. The magnificent baroque cathedral with the Pórtico de la Gloria and the legendary Silver Facade houses the relics of the Apostle James and has been one of the three major Christian pilgrimage sites alongside Rome and Jerusalem since the Middle Ages. When the Botafumeiro, the largest censer in the world, swings through the nave, it is an overwhelming experience. The old town (UNESCO World Heritage since 1985) is a total work of art made of granite architecture, arcades, and winding alleys, where rain glistens on the cobblestones — for Santiago is one of the rainiest cities in Spain, giving it a unique atmosphere. Surrounding the cathedral are the Plaza del Obradoiro, the Plaza de la Quintana, and the Plaza de Platerías, each with its own character. The city thrives on the mix of pilgrims, university students (founded in 1495), and Galician lifestyle. Culinary Santiago shines with Pulpo à Feira, Empanada Gallega, Pimientos de Padrón (“some are spicy, others are not”), and the Tarta de Santiago — an almond cake with the cross of Saint James. The Mercado de Abastos is the second most important attraction after the cathedral, where you can buy fresh seafood and have it prepared in the surrounding bars. In the evening, Rua do Franco transforms into a lively tapas street.