In 1886 a humble boarding house opened its doors to provide a lodging for university students in Santiago de Compostela. This is how the Casa da Troia or the House of Troy was born, located on the Rua da Troia in the historic center of the city and a few steps from the San Martiño Pinario Monastery / Church. Continue reading “The House of Troy – Santiago de Compostela, Spain”
Currently, the seat of the City Council of the city of Santiago de Compostela is the “Pazo Raxoi” or Palace of Rajoy, located on the west side of the Plaza de Obradoiro. In its origins it was built to be the residence and seminary for confessors and the children’s choir. Continue reading “The Rajoy Palace – Santiago de Compostela, Spain”
During medieval times, the popular meeting point in Santiago de Compostela (Galicia, Spain) was known as the “Forum”, a place where the town crier announced news of the municipality and the Archbishopric. The place later became the mercantile center of the city earning itself the name of “Plaza do Campo”. Continue reading ““Plaza de Cervantes” – Santiago de Compostela, Spain”
Serving as a theatrical backdrop to the Silversmith’s Square, in Santiago de Compostela (Galicia-Spain) we find the Casa do Cabildo, or Casa de la Estrella, as it is also known.
The architect Clemente Fernandez Sarela, is responsible for its construction in the eighteenth century Baroque Compostela style. The structure has a depth of less than 4 meters and fulfills the main function of enclosing the Silversmith’s Square space. Continue reading ““Casa do Cabildo” – Santigo de Compostela, Spain”
The Hospital of the Catholic Kings in Santiago de Compostela, has 500 years of existence, and has since been converted into a hotel, it is considered the oldest in all of Spain. In 1954 it became a National “Parador” with a privileged location, facing the Obradoiro Plaza and next to the great Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Continue reading “Hospital of the Catholic Kings – Santiago de Compostela, Spain”
In our visit to Santiago de Compostela, we strolled many times through this square, without properly knowing its history. It turns out that the term or name “Plaza de Quintana” by definition is the “Plaza de la Plaza”. However, this square is actually composed of two sections, the Quintana de Abaixo or of the Dead and the Quintana de Arriba or the Plaza of the Living. Continue reading “The Quintana Square – Santigo de Compostela, Spain”
Surrounded by historic buildings such as the Palace of “Rajoy”, the Hostal de los Catholic Kings, the Saint Jerome’s School and the Cathedral of “Santiago de Compostela” is “Plaza del Obradoiro”, center and heart of this Galician town. Today, it is the place where pilgrims and tourists arrive, to celebrate the completed pilgramage, to reaffirm their faith or to simply contemplate and be a participant in everything that surrounds them and provokes their splendor. Continue reading ““Plaza del Obradoiro”, center and heart of Santiago de Compostela”
During the Middle Ages, it was in the square that was located in front of the south facade of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the Cloister where the merchants met to sell their works made in silver. Hence the name Plaza de la Prateria or Platería; Silversmith’s Plaza. Continue reading “The Silversmith’s Plaza – Santiago de Compostela, Spain”
Facing towards the north facade of the Cathedral we will find the Plaza de la Inmaculada framed by the Monastery of San Martiño Pinario. It is also known as the “Plaza de la Azabachería”, because it was the home of workshops dedicated to jet carving for a long time. Continue reading “Plaza of the Immaculate – Santiago de Compostela, Spain”
When in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, one seldomly is able to witness that special moment one looks forward to, the botafumeiro in full action and movement. We managed to enter the Cathedral and participate in the Sunday Mass, especially dedicated to pilgrims. And yes, we were blessed to observe the whole process of putting the botafumeiro in motion. Continue reading “Replica of the “Botafumiero” – Santiago de Compostela, Spain”