Travel to Santiago De Compostela

Travel to Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela, also known as St James of Santiago de Compostela, is the capital of Galicia. It lies to the north-west of Spain and has become a famous pilgrimage site because it is said to contain the remains of the apostle St James. Santiago de Compostela has been classified as a World Heritage City by UNESCO and is a city filled with Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings, It has a very interesting Old Town, ancient monuments and of course the tomb of St James all of which combine to make this a popular destination for pilgrims and tourists.

Transportation to Santiago de Compostela

The Lavacolla Airport is only 11 km away from the city and its air traffic includes national and international flights by British Airways, Spanair, Air France, Iberia Airlines, Air Europa, Vueling and many other flights. To get to the city from the airport step onto a shuttle bus or take a taxi. There are many roads leading into Santiago de Compostela including the AP9 and the N-V1, a dual carriageway that links to the AP9 motorway. Many bus services travel into the main cities in Spain including Santiago de Compostela. There are train services from major cities in Europe to the Renfe railway station in the city.

What to see

Tourists usually spend lots of time exploring the old town of Santiago de Compostela which is situated on top of a small hill. The old town has been declared a national monument and is closed to vehicles. Visitors will be thrilled with its narrow cobbled streets that lead into large squares surrounded by beautiful buildings. The Santiago de Compostela cathedral has been the site of pilgrims for almost a thousand years. It is said that the body of St James, one of the 12 apostles, is entombed here. The Plaza Obradorio, with its Baroque faade and contrasting interior is also a famous building to visit. Other interesting places include the palace of the Archbishop Gelmirez, the cloisters, treasury, the Benedictine San Martin church, Santo Domingo, Santa Clara, the 14th century Hostal de Los Reyes Catolicos and the archaeological museum.

Day trips

The areas around Santiago de Compostela are worth exploring as they include charming villages and towns that offer old fashioned hospitality. There is a beautiful monastery at Poio, a small village just outside Santiago de Compostela. The 16th century San Juan de Poio monastery has a small museum that is quite interesting to visit. Near Pio are many small fishing villages that are good places to stop and have a seafood meal. Tevedra is a small town in which is located the Basilica of Santa Mara la Mayo, the Pontervedras museum and the Sanctuary of La Peregrina.

Activities and leisure

There are several opportunities for hiking, trekking, mountain biking, cycling and walking at Santiago de Compostela. Other activities include boat cruises along the coast, Spanish cooking workshops, wine tasting, horseback riding, scuba diving, swimming, sailing, windsurfing, fishing, snorkelling and many other water sports and land activities. The nightlife is also quite good with many bars, pubs, elegant and romantic restaurants, cafes and sidewalk bistros to choose from.

Safety issues

It is always best to have travel insurance whenever travelling to a foreign country. The insurance does provide peace of mind and comes in very useful should something unfortunate happen. Santiago de Compostela is a city which is visited by hundreds of tourists and pilgrims and naturally there are cases of pick pocketing and snatch thieving. Travellers are always advised to be careful with their belongings and alert about their surroundings.