Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia, Spain. The Cathedral is the city's main attraction because it is the final stop on the route of the medieval pilgrimage or the Way of St. James since the 9th century. The Old Town of Santiago de Compostela was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.
At present the unique structures and monuments in Santiago de Compostela still continue to attract tourists from all over the world. It is also a university town with plenty of youthful exuberance emanating from the students loitering around the city. It is a historic but also a very exciting city to visit in Spain. The seafood dishes made from fresh catch from the sea are also one of the main attractions in Santiago de Compostela and all over Galicia.
The history of Santiago de Compostela is also one of the main attractions of the city because it has a very rich history. The city got its name from the Apostle James whose name translates to Santiago in Spanish. Saint James travelled to a far-flung Spanish city to spread the word of God and introduce Christianity to the people. He undertook this endeavour even if the city was then considered to be the end of the earth or Finis Terrae as the Spanish called it.
In 44 AD Saint James returned to Palestine where he was imprisoned by Herodes Agrippa and was tortured until he died. The king denied him his last rites and even a decent burial so his followers stole his dead body and placed him in a marble sarcophagus. They took the body of Saint James out to the sea aboard a boat but there were strong currents so they were driven into a port along the coast of Iria Flavia, the capital of the Roman province. His followers decided to bury his body there instead of travelling further. He was secretly buried deep inside the woods.
In 813 AD, centuries after the death of Saint James a hermit discovered a shining light in the woods where he was buried. Because of this shining light, that spot was called Campus Stellae or the field of the star which was later changed to Compostela. Bishop Teodomiro was informed of this strange light and so he ordered an investigation which brought about the discovery of Saint James' burial site.
King Alphonse himself ordered a chapel to be erected on the site and also announced Saint James as the patron of his kingdom. Through the years, Saint James made lots of miracles. After many centuries, the chapel that was originally built on his burial site became a small settlement called Santiago de Compostela which grew over the years to become the bustling city that it is now.
At present the unique structures and monuments in Santiago de Compostela still continue to attract tourists from all over the world. It is also a university town with plenty of youthful exuberance emanating from the students loitering around the city. It is a historic but also a very exciting city to visit in Spain. The seafood dishes made from fresh catch from the sea are also one of the main attractions in Santiago de Compostela and all over Galicia.
The history of Santiago de Compostela is also one of the main attractions of the city because it has a very rich history. The city got its name from the Apostle James whose name translates to Santiago in Spanish. Saint James travelled to a far-flung Spanish city to spread the word of God and introduce Christianity to the people. He undertook this endeavour even if the city was then considered to be the end of the earth or Finis Terrae as the Spanish called it.
In 44 AD Saint James returned to Palestine where he was imprisoned by Herodes Agrippa and was tortured until he died. The king denied him his last rites and even a decent burial so his followers stole his dead body and placed him in a marble sarcophagus. They took the body of Saint James out to the sea aboard a boat but there were strong currents so they were driven into a port along the coast of Iria Flavia, the capital of the Roman province. His followers decided to bury his body there instead of travelling further. He was secretly buried deep inside the woods.
In 813 AD, centuries after the death of Saint James a hermit discovered a shining light in the woods where he was buried. Because of this shining light, that spot was called Campus Stellae or the field of the star which was later changed to Compostela. Bishop Teodomiro was informed of this strange light and so he ordered an investigation which brought about the discovery of Saint James' burial site.
King Alphonse himself ordered a chapel to be erected on the site and also announced Saint James as the patron of his kingdom. Through the years, Saint James made lots of miracles. After many centuries, the chapel that was originally built on his burial site became a small settlement called Santiago de Compostela which grew over the years to become the bustling city that it is now.