HomeThe City
Placed in the Northwest of Spain, Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia and one of the most recognized cities of our country for its tradition, its culture and its “enormous young " spirit, thanks to University, founded more than 500 years ago. Santiago is also one of the main centers of Christian peregrination together with Rome and Jerusalem, since the Apostle Santiago, The Major, is buried in this city.
The history of Santiago de Compostela goes back to the prehistory, the Celtic culture, the arrival of the Romans and, as point of inflexion, the discovery of the burial of the Apostle Santiago in the 9th century. From this moment, the city was growing around the center of power represented by the Archbishop of Santiago and his physical representation, the Cathedral, which construction dates back to the 11th century. The Way of Santiago marked since then the evolution of this multicultural city that every year receives thousands of persons who make a unique trip from diverse points of Spain, Europe and of the rest of the world.
The Way of Santiago, though in its origins it was an essentially religious route, was transforming itself in a tour of contact among different cultures and people.
The Way of Santiago was declared in 1987 The First European Itinerary by the Council of Europe and, from 1993, it is a Patrimony of the Humanity of the UNESCO. In addition, this year its importance increases due to the celebration of the Holy Year Xacobeo 2010, an event that is celebrated only when July 25th coincides in Sunday, that is to say, 14 times in one century. In fact, there will not be another Xacobeo until 2021.
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During the Xacobeo, the Church grants the public inspectors 'spiritual graces’, but, besides religious acts, this event is celebrated with lots and attractive cultural activities both in Santiago de Compostela and in other localities of Galicia, as concerts of music of several styles, theatre, exhibitions, dance, recitals of poetry or festivals. For that, this is an interesting year for the pilgrims from the whole world, but also for those interested in culture.
The peregrinations influenced the physiognomy of Santiago de Compostela that, as the years went by, contemplated how the Cathedral dedicated to the Apostle Santiago, in its origins Romanesque, adopted the sobriety of the Renaissance and the grandeur of the Baroque, while monasteries, hospitals and lodgings for travelling, numerous churches, lordly houses and beautiful squares were emerging.
Compostela has preserved all these historical monuments but, in addition, the current city offers a rich contemporary architecture and an important number of parks and gardens that turn it into an attractive place to visit and to live in.
CULTURE
Santiago receives during the whole year different kinds of cultural events, from popular festivities, being the most important the celebration of the Festivity of the Apostle, declared of Tourist International Interest, up to theatre, cinema, museums or permanent exhibitions that attract the residents, pilgrims and tourists.
With an authentic medieval air, the Galician capital offers an intense cultural activity, including the best Arabic Cinema of Europe: the Festival Amal.
DISTINCTIONS
Santiago de Compostela accumulates a great list of prizes and distinctions among which we will point out the declaration as Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity for the UNESCO in 1985. In addition, it has been European City of the Culture in 2000 and has received awards as the Honor's Flag of the Council of Europe, the European Prize of Urbanism or the Prize 'Habitat' of Good Practices of the UNO.
HOW TO GET HERE
• By plane:
Lavacolla's airport is 13 kilometres far away from the city and it takes 15 minutes to get from there by car.
The access has to be made through for the national road N-634a, which joins Santiago with the N-547 towards Lugo. It is also possible to access across the highway A-54, that joins the surrounding of Santiago with the national N-547.
The airlines that operate in Santiago’s airport are: Iberia, Spanair, Air Europa, Ryanair, Air Berlin, Vueling and Aer Lingus.
In addition, there is a line of coaches from the airport to Santiago, as well as taxi rank and rent a car services.
• By train:
Train station Santiago de Compostela
C/Hórreo s/n
Telephone: 902 24 02 02 - 981 59 18 59
www.renfe.es
• By car:
- Highway of the Atlantic Ocean AP-9: links Santiago de Compostela with A Coruña, Ferrol, Pontevedra, Vigo, Tui and Portuguese border.
- Highway of the Northwest A-6: links Galicia with the rest of Spain via Lugo province (links up with Santiago via the AP-9 near A Coruña).
- Highway of the Rías Baixas A-52: links Galicia with the rest of Spain via Ourense province (links up with Santiago via the AP-9 in Vigo or by means of the N-525 road in Ourense).
- Highway AP-53: currently links Santiago with Lalín, connecting with the N-525 road to Ourense and Madrid.
• By bus:
- Bus station:
San Caetano, s/n
981 54 24 16
www.tussa.org
- Long distance routes:
o Enatcar Internacional (Intercar/Alsa + Dainco)
Connection with Madrid, Gijon, Bilbao, Irún, Zamora, Salamanca, Caceres. Seville. Cadiz, Algeciras, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France and Switzerland
o Tel: + 34902422242
www.alsa.es
o Socitransa
Connections with Belgium, Germany, France, Holland, Switzerland, Romania and Portugal.
www.socitransa.com
- Destinations of Galicia:
o Freire
Main destinations: Airport of Santiago, Lugo.
More information: www.empresafreire.com
o Castromil – Monbus
Main destinations: A Coruña, Vigo, Pontevedra, Ferrol, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Cambados, O Grove, To Toxa, Noia, Walls, Betanzos, Ferrol, Ourense.
o Arriva
Main destinations: Fisterra and Costa da morte
- Urban buses: www.tussa.org
