The big attraction in Santiago de Compostela is, of course, the Cathedral of St. James (which is the finishing point of the Camino – 400,000 or so pilgrims officially complete the Camino each year). We had a great tour of the Cathedral, its museum (no photography allowed!), and the square including the Cathedral, City Hall, a college, and our hotel (formerly the Royal Hospital).
Cathedral at Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de Compostela City HallHostal Reis Catolicos de Santiago de CompostelaSt. JamesSt. James the Moor-Slayer on City HallGravestone in the cloisterPortico of Glory12th C Romanesque SculptureMaster Matthew, the last architect of the cathedral. He signed the arches above (see next photo).
Pilgrims (and now anyone) can follow a path behind the altar and hug St. James. There was a long line.More St. James on the altar piece. Unusually, Jesus is nowhere to be found on the altar piece.Even more St. James.BotafumeiroThe Holy Door – during a Jubilee year, you can obtain a plenary indulgence by crossing the door, attending a mass, confessing, and making a donation. 2010, 2021, 2022 as a covid do-over, then 2027, 2032, and 2039.Chapel of our Lady of the pillar. Notice the scallops (the symbol of St. James).6th Century Baptismal font, spared by the Moors. Tradition says that the horse of the leader of the Moors drank from the font and exploded!Silversmiths’ Square, the traditional exit to the cathedral. Now it’s the entrance.Entrance to the Holy DoorThe Cathedral was also a fortressNothing in the city can be built higher than the lantern at the top of the Cathedral tower because it was used to guide pilgrims during a holy year.Figas – protection from the evil eyeMonastery of San Martin, the second largest monastery in SpainOur guide Fernando with his Pilgrimage certificate
We’d been warned that Sunday was a busy day in Santiago de Compostela, so we’d made reservations for lunch at Camino Curry, an Indian restaurant with an interesting story. Kamal, the owner and our waiter, is a British Hindu who did the Camino and was inspired to open the restaurant; it offers free meals for pilgrims and has a Wall of Fame with photos of those who completed the Camino. We didn’t qualify for the wall, but we did take a photo inside!
Lunch at Camino Curry
The food and service was impeccable (and there was no hake on the menu!); I’d go back if I had more time here.
Camino Curry
The route back to our hotel took us along the last 500 meters or so of the Camino, which is marked by scallop shells in the pavement.
We rested until the group’s farewell dinner, which was excellent, fun, a bit sad, and also had no hake on the menu. We are hoping to join the MIT Travel tour that Professor Binzel is organizing for the 2028 eclipse in Australia!
