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8 Iconic Places to See at Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Priya Johnson
Situated in North-West Spain, Santiago de Compostela is a Christian pilgrim city, whose Old Town was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. The city is lined with historical monuments, grand cathedrals, palaces, monasteries, and even universities.

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Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela

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One of Spain’s most iconic architectural marvels, this 11th century cathedral is the burial place of the apostle James. Located in Galicia, this magnificent cathedral is also renowned for marking the end of the Camino de Santiago, the 780 km pilgrim route.

Camino de Santiago

Also known as The Way of Saint James, it is an entire network of roads that lead to the burial site of Apostle James at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
Every year thousands of devout pilgrims walk along 780 km routes spread across Europe to reach this holy city.

Praza do Obradoiro

This grand city square was the place where artisans set up their workshop to build the huge cathedral. What makes this square grand is the number of iconic monuments situated in close proximity.
Standing in the square you can see the Santiago Cathedral, Santiago Town Hall (Pazo de Raxoi), Clock Tower, The Praza da Inmaculada, and so on.

Museo do Pobo Galego

Also known as the museum of the Galician people, this museum gives you a detailed picture of what Galician culture is all about.
Learn all about their traditions, cultures, clothes, trades, beliefs, etc. at this historical museum. The museum is renowned for its 13th century granite, triple spiral staircase.

Monasterio de San Martín Pinario

The city of Santiago de Compostela is dotted with several monasteries, however, the most impressive of them is the Monastery of San Martin Pinario.
It happens to be the second largest monastery in the country and also the second largest religious monument in the city, after the Cathedral.

Parque de la Alameda

This huge park in the heart of the city is a scenic place to relax and allow the historic vibe of the city to soak in.
Interestingly, the Alameda park has three different paths inside, meant for the different classes of society which existed during its construction.

Mercado de Abastos

At this food market, find the best and freshest Galician produce sold by about 70 food producers at approximately 300 stalls. There are stalls that will even cook your freshly purchased produce for a reasonable price. Try octopus, the local delicacy!

University of Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela’s many universities attract scores of students every year.
Founded in 1945, the University of Santiago de Compostela is not only the oldest university in Spain but also one of the oldest universities in the world that has been in continuous operation.