Destination Galicia.
My luxury pilgrim tour to Santiago de Compostela.
Contributed by Jens Hoffmann.
Santiago de Compostela, better known as Santiago is the capital of the community of Galicia in northwestern Spain.
The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great, now the city’s cathedral, as destination of the Way of St. James, a leading Catholic pilgrimage route originated in the 9th century.
Always fun to strollthrough Santiago, say hello to the Cathedral, the Plaza do Obradoiro where the Parador is located, the Gemirez and Rajoy Palaces, the Church of Santa Maria del Sar, the Monastery of San Marin Pinario, the Museum of Tapestries, the Church of Santa Maria Salome and finally the Museo do Pobo Galego. We went first to the Mercado de Abastos.
At the local food market you can buy freshly caught seafood and regional specialties like creamy cheeses, homemade liqueurs, tarta de Santiago, a lengendary almond cake.
Spring is the best time to visit because the rough winter rains have passed, flowers are blooming everywhere, and the high tide of summer pilgrims hasn’t yet arrived.
A view you will get from Monte Pedroso.
My tip is to skip the touristy restaurants along Rúa do Franco, in the South of the cathedral, better to try the more fancy eateries and dependable tapas bars on Rúa de San Pedro instead.
We checked in at the Parador, the hostal which originated as a Royal Hospital in 1499 gave lodging and shelter to the numerous pilgrims making their way to Santiago, it continues this age old practice today.
Nowadays it is a five star deluxe hotel next to the famous Santiago do Compostela cathedral.
Probably the oldest hotel in the world.
A mixture of history, art and tradition, the Parador Dos Reis Catolicos forms a magnificent corner with the cathedral in one of the most visited regional capitals of the world. Obviously it is also one of the most luxurious.
It has four cloisters of immense beauty, elegant living rooms, spectacular bedrooms and a luxurious dining room.
The restaurant at Hostal dos Reis Catolicos offers a varied menu but specialises in Galecean cooking but also has international dishes to choose from.
The Parador has revived ancient recipes and created its own you must try the sea bass fillet baked in Iberian bacon with mint broad beans; or the fish and potato sauté; or the scallops stuffed with sea urchin; or a sirloin Steak in a cebreiro cheese sauce.
And for dessert, perhaps crêpes filled with apple compote.
The main religious festival is on July 25th when there is the solemn Mass and the National Offering to the Apostle Santiago (Saint James) who is buried in the cathedral. Galicia is a hot spot, enjoy the cliffs of the Costa do Morte (Death Coast) get a few impressive views that you will encounter at Finisterre so called Land‘s end.
In 1985 the city’s Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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