Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela (2003 pop. 92,339), the "European City of Culture" for the year 2000, is located in the northwest region of Spain in the province of A Coruña. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia.

The city

The cathedral fronts on the main Plaza of the old and well-preserved city. Across the square is the Palacio de Rajoi (Rajoi's Palace,) the town hall, and on the right from the cathedral steps is the Hostal de Los Reyes Católicos, founded in 1492 by the Catholic Kings, Isabela and Fernando, as a pilgrim's hospice. Today, this beautiful Renaissance building with four cloisters serves as a luxurious hotel. The Obradoiro façade of the cathedral, the best known, is depicted on the Spanish euro coins of 1 cent, 2 cents, and 5 cents (?0.01, ?0.02, and ?0.05).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Santiago also has a fine university which can be seen best from an alcove in the large municipal park in the centre of the city. The University ensures youthful night life. Within the old town there are many narrow winding streets full of historic buildings. The new town all around it has less character though some of the older parts of the new town have some big apartments in them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Santiago gives its name to one of the four military orders of Spain: Compostela, Calatrava, Alcantara and Montesa.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~