The phenomenon of pilgrimage is not only a relevant historical fact, but also a continuous movement thanks to the celebration of the Holy Years.Ĭriterion (i): Around its cathedral, which is a world renowned masterpiece of Romanesque art, Santiago de Compostela conserves a valuable historic centre, known as one of Christianity´s greatest holy cities. However, the authentic symbol of the city is the Baroque western façade of the cathedral, which forms one of the sides of the square of Obradoiro, one of the world´s most beautiful urban areas. The cathedral, considered as a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, keeps the remarkable Pórtico de la Gloria, a jewel of the medieval sculpture. This town is not only a harmonious and very well preserved historical city, but also a place deeply imbued with faith. The squares and narrow streets of the Old Town contain Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassicist buildings. The Old Town of Santiago de Compostela, together with the outlying Santa Maria de Conxo Monastery, constitutes an extraordinary ensemble of distinguished monuments. Destroyed by the Muslims at the end of the 10th century, it was completely rebuilt in the following century. This famous pilgrimage site also became a symbol in the Spanish Christians' struggle against Islam. This influence in the local architecture and art was especially strong and long-lasting in the north-west of Spain, but the fame and the reputation of the sanctuary of Santiago de Compostela went well beyond Galicia was even known in the Nordic sagas as Jakobsland. This is evidenced in the small towns, churches, hospitals, and monasteries that were built near the Camino to attend to the thousands of pilgrims who came to visit the tomb. Pilgrims came from all over Europe following the Camino de Santiago to reach the city born around the Holy Tomb, exercising a great influence on the surrounding area. A few years later, this site became a famous pilgrimage town, one of the most important of Christianity. James the Greater, the beloved apostle of Jesus Christ, had been discovered in a far site near the finis terrae, the end of the known Earth, in the northwest of Iberian Peninsula. Very soon, the incredible news spread all over the Christian world: the tomb of St. In the beginning of the 9th century, a hermit called Pelagius saw a mysterious light shining over a Roman tomb forgotten in the middle of a forest. On this website you can obtain further information about the pilgrimage, statistics about the pilgrims who have arrived in Santiago and links to other organisations and websites which may be able to assist you. The Pilgrim’s Reception Office does not recommend any particular external websites nor does it accept responsibility for the content of any such websites.Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) is located in Galicia, situated in the far north-west of Spain. The present Director is Segundo Pérez López. The Director of the Pilgrim’s Reception Office is traditionally a Canon of the Cathedral. The Pilgrim’s Reception Office is run by the Cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela. In this office we issue the final stamp of the Cathedral of Santiago on the official pilgrim credenciale s as well as the traditional certificate, the Compostela, to those who qualify. At the Pilgrim’s Reception Office we welcome all pilgrims arriving in the city who have walked or travelled on horseback or by bicycle to the Tomb of St.

Welcome to the official website of the Pilgrim’s Reception Office in Santiago de Compostela.

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