The name of this Galician city Compostela comes from the Latin words \u2018campus stellae\u2019 which means \u2018field of the star\u2019. Consisting of the strong grey granite and mica, the area has what could be considered an un-Spain-like climate producing continual showers.<\/p>\n
The local university keeps the streets and the bars of Santiago de Compostela full of life and continues to grow enormously. What brings most newcomers, however, and where all paths seem to lead is to the cathedral of Santiago. The great cathedral is the goal and the end of the long pilgrimage, \u2018El Camino de Santiago\u2019.<\/p>\n
Pilgrims enter through the \u2018Porto de Cami\u00f1o\u2019, where they can explore baroque and Romanesque churches and monasteries. They pass through enormous arches and arcades with many vibrant shops along the way. Here you can also find the \u2018Palacio de Fonseca\u2019, a university building with a Renaissance fa\u00e7ade.<\/p>\n
The cathedral of Santiago has a baroque fa\u00e7ade and elaborate twin towers. There is a double ramp baroque intertwined stairway in the entrance leading to a crypt beneath. On the inside of the cathedral there is much carved imagery. In the center lies the Christ with his wounded hands accompanied by St. James and \u2018master Mateo\u2019. People bump there head against his head to gain wisdom.<\/p>\n
There are around 200 figures including images of the apocalypse, prophets, and hell. There is a gallery running around the cathedral. Above the alter is an image of St. James, where you may climb up and kiss the shell on the back of his gown, as a final \u2018amen\u2019 to the journey.<\/p>\n
References: Explore Spain Map and Guide Pack, Northern Spain Cadogan Guides <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The name of this Galician city Compostela comes from the Latin words \u2018campus stellae\u2019 which means \u2018field of the star\u2019. Consisting of the strong grey granite and mica, the area has what could be considered an un-Spain-like climate producing continual showers. The local university keeps the streets and the bars of Santiago de Compostela full […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-spain-tourism"],"yoast_head":"\n