Santiago de Compostela Holidays

City breaks to Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela serves as the chequered flag for the legendary Camino de Santiago trail, which brings thousands of Christian pilgrims to visit its iconic cathedral every year. Known to be the burial place of James the Apostle, you don’t need to be a follower to feel a certain holiness here. But where the city marks the end of many travellers’ journeys, it’s UNESCO-backed old town also offers new beginnings when it comes to Galician architecture and a seafood-centred local cuisine. Neatly packed into one area, a whole day’s itinerary can be found within the zona monumental, which only takes 15 minutes to cross. Tick off the Monastery of San Martino Pinario contemporary art galleries and the famous Mercado de Abastos.

Rub shoulders with holy relics in the city’s Cathedral

Exploring Santiago de Compostela’s cathedral ranks highly on this city’s to-do list. It’s the landmark attraction here and thousands of people visit every year to climb the High Altar and kiss Santiago’s sacred cape to confess your sins – he’s said to have been one of the first apostles to die for Jesus.