Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Day 8 of my Globus tour. This morning we visited the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela on the Praza do Obradoiro that was begun in 1075 and completed in 1211. It contains relics of Saint James the Great, an apostle of Jesus Christ. He brought Christianity to the Iberian peninsula. Saint James was beheaded in Jerusalem in 44 AD. His relics were later brought to Santiago de Compostela and placed in the cathedral. Santiago de Compostela is a major pilgrimage site and is in the Galicia area of Spain.

San Jeronimo College

There are other buildings on the Praza do Obradoiro, including the San Jeronimo College––on the right.

Hostal dos Reis Catolicos

Also on the Praza do Obradoiro (rear, middle) is the Hostal dos Reis Catolicos, the Parador de Santiago, a five–star hotel. It was constructed in 1486 as a religious building. Today, it is the oldest continuing operating hotel in the world.

Palace of Raxoi

Directly across from the cathedral is the Palace of Raxoi, a neoclassical palace completed in 1766. It houses the city hall and other government offices.

Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) follows Saint James routes when he brought Christianity to the Iberian Peninsula. About 200,000 pilgrims a year make this spiritual journey. The longest route, 475 miles (764 km) and said to be the most popular one, is the St. Jean Piedde Port route starting in France. You can walk or ride bicyles on the routes on your own or with a guide. The routes are mainly flat and well marked. You can also arrange overnight accommodations along the routes from basic to luxury and you can even have your luggage shipped to your final destination. To receive a Compostela, an official certificate, you have to walk (or ride a horse) for 62.1 miles (100 km) or ride a bicycle for 125.3 miles (200 km), having a Pilgrim’s Passport stamped along your journey.

Pilgrims

The pilgrims’ final stop is at the Praza do Obradoiro in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This photo is of my favorite pilgrim.

Museo Catedral

We next visited the Museo Catedral located in the cloister of the cathedral.

Museo Catedral

Two of the sculptures in the museum.

Museo Catedral Library

The library at the museum.

Inside the Cathedral

The cathedral was undergoing renovation so much of it couldn’t be viewed very well.

The Crypt

The entrance to the cathedral’s crypt.

The Crypt

Inside the crypt. The relics of Saint James the Great and two of his disciples, Saint Theodorus and Saint Atanasius, are interred here.

The Chapter House

The Chapterhouse of the silversmiths is on the Praza das Praterias. It was built in 1758 and is across from a back entrance to the cathedral.

Convent of San Francisco

Also part of the complex of buildings near the cathedral is the 18th–century Franciscan Convent of San Francisco and its church. The convent is now a hotel. In front of the church is the Monument to San Francisco de Asis (St. Francis of Assisi).

I have put my photos of Santiago de Compostela on a slide show. Go to
http://www.peggysphotos.com/santiago–de–compostela/ (Slide Shows, Western Europe, Spain–2, “Santiago de Compostela”).

Santiago de Compostela View

A view of the countryside from the bus lot at Santiago de Compostela.

Santiago de Compostela Mural

A mural seen near the bus lot.

Santiago de Compostela Mural

Close–up.

La Coruna

Thia afternoon, I went on an optional Globus tour to La Coruna (also called A Coruna). On its Praza de Maria Pita was its City Hall.

Monument to Maria Pita

On the Praza de Maria Pita is the Monument to Maria Pita. Maria Pita is known as “The Woman Who Saved a Galician Town from the British.” When a British fleet under the command of Sir Francis Drake invaded La Coruna at the end of the 16th century, she joined her husband to fight the invaders. He was shot by a crossbow and immediately died. She stayed on and killed a British soldier who was attempting to climb over the city wall. She then stood on the top of the wall and shouted “Whoever has honor, follow me.” The La Coruna defenders followed her lead and crushed the invaders.

La Coruna Restaurants

We had our lunch in La Coruna. There were many restaurants on this street. I ate at an Italian restaurant.

Tower of Hercules

After our lunch, we drove to view the Tower of Hercules which overlooks the North Atlantic coast of Spain and which was built by the Romans in the second century. It was renovated in 1791 and still functions as a lighthouse.

Tower of Hercules

Close–up of the Tower of Hercules.

Tower of Hercules

We walked up a hill to view the Tower of Hercules from afar and then returned to Santiago de Compostela.

I have put my photos of La Coruna on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/la–coruna/ (Slide Shows, Western Europe, Spain–1, “La Coruna”).