Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Santiago de Compostela has been a centre for culture and scholarship for centuries, most famous for being the end destination of a thousand-year-old pilgrimage: El Camino de Santiago, or the Way of Saint James. Being the capital of the Galician region in north-western Spain, everyday life in Santiago is modern and chic. Awarded recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage City in 1985, Santiago de Compostela is a historical gem and one of the most impressive cities in Spain.
Population:
96,000 ca.
Currency:
Euro (EUR) €1 = 100 cents
Emergency Numbers:
Emergency: 112
Police: 091
Ambulace: 061
Opening Hours:
Business hours are usually 09:30/10.00-20.00/21.00 Mon-Sat with a lunch break beetween 13.00 and 14.00. Some shops do not close during lunch time and others, mainly in the city centre, are also open on Sundays and public holidays during the sales or the Christmas season. Bars, cafés and restaurants are open most of the day, and many restaurants still serve food after midnight.
Newspapers:
7 Días
El Correo Gallego
La Voz de Galicia
El Pais
The City
You don't have to be a pilgrim to enjoy the wonderful city of Santiago. Its historic centre is widely accepted as one of the most beautiful old towns in Spain, if not the world, and it is where visitors wish to spend most of their time. Wander through narrow streets among ancient stone buildings and be greeted by history at every turn.
Santiago is considered to be one of the spiritual capitals of Christendom, on par almost with Jerusalem and the Vatican. The city has been shaped around the spot where the relics of the disciple James – Santiago – are said to be found in a field almost 1,000 years ago, sparking the religious pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
But Santiago has a modern side to it as well. It is home to over 40,000 students that breathe fresh life into the city, giving it lively nightlife and strong cultural and artistic tones. Add to that hip shopping and an innovative culinary scene, and you have one of northern Spain's most interesting and beautiful destinations.
Do & See
This old city in the north east of Spain has a lot to offer. The 40,000 students that live here make the city what it is today, a lively and modern metropolis set among an Old Town teeming with history. Santiago is a unique blend of old and new, with innovative art and culture and a fascinating history of pilgrimage, visible on every corner.
Dining
As the region’s capital, Santiago is the hub for Galician culinary experiences. Seafood is one of the main specialities and some of the best offerings can be found on Rúa do Franco as well as Rúa do Vilar. Besides fresh fish, local specialties include charcoal-grilled meat, cured ham and beef and other cold meats like chorizo, salchichón and morcilla. Local cheeses include Cebreiro, Arzúa, Tetilla and San Simón.
Cafes
Small enough to be strongly influenced by its university, Santiago de Compostela revels in a continuously refreshed influx of youthful energy and creativity that treats the grand stone structures as the most magnificent stage. Wander the streets of Santiago and rest your legs at one of the cosy cafés over a hot cup of coffee.
