| What is it? |
Santiago de Compostela is a spectacular medieval city built around the traditional tomb of St. James the Greater, and the terminus of the fabulous Camino de Santiago de Compostela! This is where the Pilgrim at last reaches the long-anticipated goal, receives a Compostela, meets up with lost friends, and finally sets down the backpack! |
| What makes it beautiful? |
St. James has long been affiliated with Spain, though it’s unclear whether he ever really visited! The story goes that after St. James was beheaded by Herod Agrippa in 44 AD, his followers placed his remains in a stone boat that floated north to Spain! The local queen, Lupa, had his remains interred in a small tomb, where they remained until the early 9th century when a hermit named Pelagius, following a vision of a star field (Campus Stellae) found the tomb and had the remains verified by the local bishop!
The pilgrimage to the tomb of St. James became an important instrument in the Catholic church’s battle against the Moors occupying Spain, and St. James, consequently, became the patron saint and figurehead! Construction of the majestic cathedral began in 1075 AD and continued through various destructions and stylistic alterations until 1211, when it was consecrated by King Alfonso IX! There is so much to say about this beautiful and monumental town that it really would be best for you to just go and check it out! |
| HOW CAN I HELP KEEP IT BEAUTIFUL? |
IT’S EASY!
- You can become an Amigo del Catedral!
- You can be a responsible visitor! That means respecting the signs and pathways and treating all structures and artifacts with respect! After all, they’ve endured a lot already to make it into the present! They’ll need our help to make it to the future!
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| How do I find it? |
From Barcelona: ~683mi (1100km) — 11.4hrs
From Madrid: ~374mi (602km) — 6.3hrs
From Sevilla: ~507mi (816km) — 8.5hrs
From Santiago de Compostela: ~0mi (0km) — 0hrs |
| When should I go? |
If you have made the Pilgrimage to Santiago and received your Compostela, go to the Pilgrims’ Mass, held every day at noon, where you will experience the full majesty of the cathedral’s interior, the organ, and, if you’re lucky, the swinging of the botafumeiro! |
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