Santiago de Compostela, Spain — Overview
The atmospheric granite streets of Santiago de Compostela's beautiful historic center lead to Spain's most famous church, a fabulous Romanesque-baroque cathedral that is destination for over 100,000 trudging pilgrims annually. Since medieval times, Santiago has been a holy city, its cathedral built over the supposed (a leap of faith is required) tomb of the apostle James. Every year, folk of all nationalities and creeds walk, bike or ride horses hundreds of kilometers to the Plaza do Obradoiro, majestically over-watched by the twin towers of the magical cathedral. Galicia is also famed for its seafood, and there are some excellent places to eat it in Santiago, from select marisquerías to no-frills pulperías – octopus bars. It's all delicious – don't leave without trying zamburiñas (mini-scallops), navajas (razor clams), and percebes (goose barnacles) – and wash it down with one of the excellent dry Galician white wines.
