San Xiao (in Galician; San Julián in Spanish) is a small, intimate church 20 kms outside Santiago…read morede Compostela, in Brión. It is from the 18th century, built on the site of a former Romanesque church, and is in a tranquil setting. Aloft from the broad valley below (hence the name Bastabales or vast valley), the church has a quiet yet still used cemetery of the typical rural Galician sort, a couple of stone houses of considerable elegance and simplicity, and a few interesting trees, vines, and some other vegetation that come together to make this a spot for reflection. There is currently a curious family of geese in one of the nearby edifices, and there is water flowing from a spring into a stone fountain. The valley has has some marring of its natural air due to modern speculation, but the church remains very important in Galician culture and is part of the ruta rosaliana, comprised of sites associated with the writer Rosalía de Castro. Many Galicians visit and revisit the little church for this reason, even if not entering (it is often closed). San Xiao was made famous by Rosalía's poem to its bells, installed in the early part of the 19th century. The poem can be taken to refer to the emigrant forced to leave Galicia in search of work, some going to America never to return: Campanas de Bastabales, cando vos oio tocar, mórrome de soidades. Cando vos oio tocar, campaniñas, campaniñas, sin querer torno a chorar. Cando de lonxe vos oio, penso que por min chamades, e das entrañas me doio. The bells really do have a vibrating tone that resonates within the listener. An especially good time to go is at the end of the day, just before dusk.

One word of advice: Get there early! They open at 8, so be sure to start queueing by 7, at latest…read more You'll be glad you did! Not only will you meet fantastic Peregrinos from all over the globe, you'll also get the chance of scoring a free lunch at the Parador if you're one of the first ten in line. I got one! The people manning desks were friendly, but be ready to answer questions about your journey and provide your documents. They mean serious business! After all was said and done, we got our certificates (with our names in Latin), received our final sello on our credenciales, and took some fantastic pics. Oh yeah, they also sell certificate scrolls so you can bring them home safely. It was a Buen Camino!

After hiking 11 days I arrived in Santiago de Compostela in the afternoon and decided to avoid the…read morerush and get my Compostela (finisher certificate) when they opened the next morning. Located a block below the cathedral, at 730am there was already a long line outside. I waited about 45 min but after that it went pretty fast. You go downstairs past the courtyard pictured and pull your number. Highly recommend downloading the QR reader to monitor when your number is approaching. This allows you to leave and do something else vs waiting there. It took about 2 hours for my number so I had breakfast and explored the village. Watch out that the volunteer spells your name correctly. They often times Latinize it i.e. Michael = Miguel.

Since the main Catedral was being spruced up and closed, came here after completing the Camino…read moreFrances to reflect. I'm normally not a big crier, but I guess spending 30+ days on the trail brought out my inner chillona. This beautiful church sure did bring out the waterworks. Built between 1754-1765, this impressive church with the marvelous dome was a sight to behold. It was quiet,fairly empty, and just the perfect place to contemplate. Additionally, the chiaroscuro effects were just brilliant. I could go on and on. Overall, just a great church to spend some time alone, let everything you went through sink in, and just plain be. Buen Camino, Peregrinos!

Formerly a convent, Santa María de Conxo has been transformed into a psychiatric hospital. This…read moreoccurred in the 19th century, when the religious order was transferred to Poio. That may sound like a strange place to visit, but it is full of historical and cultural references for locals in Santiago de Compostela and for many Galicians. The hospital in fact was one of the earliest of its types and, it appears, was first used for university professors in need of mental treatment. As a religious site, the convent dates from the time of Gelmírez and the early part of the 12th century, although much of the visible part is from the 18th century. The cloister is Romanesque style and is visited by requesting entrance at the reception desk of the hospital. The church is 17th century. There is a sculpture by Gregorio Fernández and the hospital surprisingly displays a large painting by Julia Minguillón, known during the Franco period and one of the more important female artists of early 20th century Spain. Conxo is a barrio on the edge of Santiago that has grown up and lost its original appeal, but its name remains. Inmates have occasionally become famous for their artistic activities in the center of the city - either playing musical instruments of some sort, or showing drawing talents off on street walls. It was also the site for the fifth and last novel of major writer Rosalía de Castro (1837-1885), El primer loco (The First Madman, 1881). The novel is full of historical and political innuendoes and the setting described in it is virtually impossible to find now, but one can use one's imagination. And as always, a church in Galicia offers a space for reflection of any sort, spiritual or other. One really can do a course in art history wandering through some of the less spectacular and less touristic sites. Often, too, a conversation with the man or woman in charge of doors or cleaning can reveal some curious lore

It is a exquisite architectonic building quite spacious and with a lot of art artifactsread more

Amazing place! To…read morepreface, we were just your average tourists, unlike those who "pilgrim" their way here (hats off to those hardcore hikers). Nevertheless, breathtaking! Maybe not as grand as the Vatican, but after being to both, I love this cathedral much more... Great views, great vibe, great mass (if you're into such a Catholic thing), and a great cobblestone surrounding city to get your walk on... It's amazing! If you've never, you should! Prost!

Clearly this is a must-see site if you visit Santiago de Compostela. I believe the cathedral is one…read moreof the largest in Europe and probably the largest in Spain (don't quote me on that last bit). Since it is a must see site, you might face long lines. However, during our trip in early September, it only took us about 15 minutes to enter around 4 pm. So, it might be worth it to visit later in the day. In addition to viewing the wonderful Romanesque interior, you can also visit the tomb of St. James. Be aware that there is another line to view the tomb. Also, it's set up where you are not really allowed to linger around the tomb because it's pretty much a walk in, walk out situation. Admission is free for both the cathedral and tomb. Also, are not allowed to bring large rucksack; however, you can bring smaller bags.