Santiago
De Compostela
The
City of the Apostle
Santiago de Compostela along with
This sighting was reported to Bishop Theudemirus of Iria Flavia, who
discovered
on the site the tombs of the Apostle and two of his disciples. In 44
AD, after
preaching in
News of the
discovery of the tomb reached King
Alphonse II who constructed a simple church on the site of the tomb,
the church
being extended and consecrated under the reign of Alphonse III. It was
at this
time that the first pilgrimages started to be made and the city started
to grow
with settlers and religious orders building around the church.
One century later 997, the city and the sanctuary were destroyed by the
Moors,
though Bishop Pedro de Mezonzo managed so save the relics of the
Apostle. The
Moors were pushed back and the city was rebuilt and flourished under
Bishop
Xelmirez.
The city
has many attractions for the visitor,
The Plaza Del Obradorio and the Cathedral, which is a large square
surrounded
by several historical buildings. The name of the square “Plaza Del
Obradorio”
is taken after the obradoiros (the stonemasons) who lived around there
while
they worked on the construction of the cathedral. On the north side of
the
square stands the Hostel de los Reynes Catolicos, the Royal hospital,
built by
the Catholic Monarchs to provide accommodation for the pilgrims, today
ironically it is a luxury hotel. Opposite the cathedral on the square
is the
building
houses various offices of the Galician
government. The main building on the square is of course Santiago de
Compostela
Cathedral. The original building was started in 1075 and took over 100
years to
complete and occupies a total of 23,000 square meters. The Cathedral
also has a
museum with 3 separate entrances, visiting the museum gives the visitor
a true
impression of the size of the Cathedral, including the Cloisters, the
Chapterhouse and other magnificent Chapels.
The
Cathedral is also the finishing point of the “Way of St James” for
those
pilgrims who are looking to obtain the “Compostella”. Obtaining the
Compostella
by walking or cycling a certain distance along the medieval routes that
connects to France or the “English Camino” from Ferrol.
While Santiago de Compostela is rich in history and culture, it is also
a
pleasant city for the visitor.
The medieval buildings in the city centre offer a wide selection of
shopping,
and the numerous restaurants located in the medieval Spanish Piazzas
create a
relaxed atmosphere. Within the restaurants Galician cuisine rules the
day, with
a wide variety of local food, particularly “mariscos”, seafood. With
The city of the Apostle lets the visitors imagination wander, realising
that
once pilgrims to the city once walked across Europe in their thousands
to reach
the this holy place. The medieval streets and the Cathedral are the
same places
visited by medieval and modern pilgrims alike.
Introduction taken from the website of Vapour Trails Direct