Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The most famous pilgrimage site in Spain
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Santiago de Compostela Tours
Must-see places in Santiago de Compostela
Since the Middle Ages, Santiago de Compostela has been the destination of pilgrimages to the tomb of St James. The famous ” route ” is walked by Christians and everyone regardless of religion, age, or nationality. The city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as the El Camino de Santiago route leads to it. The Old Town is one of the largest and best-preserved on the Iberian Peninsula. The city also has lively nightlife thanks to its large student population, fantastic restaurants or many places to relax.
Santiago de Compostela – A Unique Pilgrimage Destination and Much More
Santiago de Compostela is a vibrant city offering several reasons to enchant the travellers, disregarding the fact if you are a pilgrim or not: innumerable restaurants and bars where you can enjoy the exquisite seafood of Galicia. There are many options in this city that combine its historic context with a more modern and contemporary side.
The destination of pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela is the tomb of the Apostle. He was the first apostle to suffer martyrdom – he was beheaded in Jerusalem. In the 7th century, his remains were transferred from Jerusalem to Santiago de Compostela. According to legend, St James appeared during the battle with the Moors at Clavijo, forcing them to flee. Therefore, this saint is portrayed as a pilgrim and apostle and a conqueror of the Moors. This is not the only legend, as there are several others regarding the uniqueness of St James.
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral – The Highlight of The Pilgrimage
According to legend, the saint’s tomb was miraculously found by Charlemagne. A great light was supposed to appear in the sky, and the rain of stars indicated the burial place of St James and his two disciples, Athanasius and Theodomiro. It was initially called Campus Stellae (Field of Stars), after which the city was named Santiago de Compostela. Soon, a church was built on the site, and pilgrims started coming there. The first documented visit dates from 850, and the pilgrim was a French bishop from Le Puy-en-Velay.
The cult of the saint expanded rapidly, and there was a need to build a more representative place. In 1075, construction of the cathedral began, commissioned by King Alfonso VI of Castile of Spain. Over the following centuries, the building was embellished, and the most impressive is undoubtedly the Baroque façade, which Fernando Casas y Novoa designed. It is very richly decorated and shows the figures of St James, his two disciples and the scene of the miraculous discovery of their tomb.
Santiago de Compostela: Tourist Attractions
Pilgrimage Museum
In Roman times a pilgrim was a man who travelled the world (more like a wanderer). In the Middle Ages, a pilgrim was a man walking to or from Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (so says Dante in “The New Life”). Man in all cultures and religions follows a path to purification, perfection or salvation. These and other stories can be found on the ground floor of the Pilgrimage Museum.
The Pilgrimage Museum has existed for a long time since it was founded in 1951. But it only opened to the public in 1996 in Calle San Miguel (today, the museum administration and library).
Viewpoint on the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
The Alameda Park is accessible from several directions, but you are most likely to enter it from the Campo da Estrela when walking from Compostela’s old town; that is, you will enter directly onto the colourful Marie. When you meet them, turn into the alley on the right and follow it to the end, where you will find the viewpoint. This is where most postcard photos are taken.
The Old Town of Santiago de Compostela
In the old town of Santiago de Compostela, let yourself get lost. After the third turn, you will start to recognise shop windows, arcades and facades of historic buildings. The centre, centred around the cathedral, is not significant. And every long narrow street eventually leads to its surroundings. Here you will find plenty of tavernas, restaurants and excellent local produce: regional cheeses and rows of unlabelled wine bottles. There you will find cheap homemade snacks and Galician wine. And of course, there are plenty of charming souvenir shops. This region is famous for its meals, unique style and charming streets for a night walk. Enjoy Spanish culture and explore top attractions!
El Camino de Santiago
El Camino de Santiago is a route you can follow on foot, by bike or, if you are brave enough, on horseback or on a donkey. You can start at your doorstep or, more popularly, at the French-Spanish border. From there, it is only 800 kilometres to Santiago. El Camino de Santiago is the perfect time to get away from reality and experience Spanish culture. And of course, an idea for a tour!
Travelling and sightseeing with MrShuttle: Why is it worth it?
Whether you are interested in a guided tour, airport or train station transfer – we are here to give you our best support during your holiday. We care about your comfort, which is why we also offer tailor-made services. Everything for your comfort! Especially if you crave a guided tour, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and we will give you some recommendations for top tours in Santiago de Compostela.
If you don’t want to worry about the journey, choose the shuttle option, and we will take you from Santiago de Compostela Airport or Santiago de Compostela Train station to wherever you want to go. At any time of the day or night, we are there for you!
Do you have any other questions related to your sightseeing plans? Or perhaps you wish to find out anything more about our city tours? Especially, if you are a fan of a more private atmosphere? Feel free to reach out to us, and one of our helpful representatives will answer your questions.
More reasons why to choose MrShuttle
We support you from the very beginning of your holiday! This is why we crave delivering the best services and comfort to you and your beloved ones, starting from the shuttle:
Door-to-door service: Sightseeing can be tiring, especially if you’re dependent on public transportation. Fortunately, this tour comes with free pick up and drop off. You will be collected from the airport (or railway) and dropped off whenever you decided to stay.
English-speaking guides and drivers: We don’t let the language barrier get in our way, so you can be sure that the drivers and guides who will accompany you speak English. When exploring Spain, of course, Spanish too. But the sky is not the limit! We offer more languages, so please raise a request to us to find out more if you can get any more support.
Helpful guide: All travellers who search for more private tours or walking attractions, can get in touch with us to ask about the possibility to arrange more tailored excursions. Get your holiday to the next level and arrange your trip to Santiago de Compostela with us! We will tell you what you should visit to feel the local atmosphere. Especially, for pilgrims lovers!
Let’s stay in touch and hope you will enjoy your day trip (or any guided tour in a private atmosphere) to Santiago de Compostela!
What people are saying about us:
Bustling airport, very modern and spacious. Everywhere looks clean and well kept.
Excellent value for money, the drivers were very polite and always on or before the time needed.
I highly recommend this company. The car for 6 people was waiting for us even before the scheduled time. The drivers were super nice and the car ( minibus) clean and comfortable. Good price too and you can pay in cash or credit card if you order via website.
Easy to book, drivers arrived on time, well priced, glad we used them, made the transfers hassle free.
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