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Learning Spanish in Santiago de Compostela. The tourist guide to study your Spanish course.
Your studies of Spanish language in Spain may start from Santiago de Compostela, where the Pilgrim's Religious Route really finishes. Learn about the capital city of Galicia, whose old town witnesses the joy of its university atmosphere.
General Information. 95,000 inhabitants, although there is a large floating population of students and tourists. 600 kilometres to the northeast of Madrid. Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Galicia. A city of Roman origin, it was one of the bastions of Christianity during the Middle Ages, with its holy temple built around the reputed tomb of Santiago el Mayor (St. James the Greater, one of the twelve apostles), discovered in the 9th century by Theudimer around the time of the Moorish conquest. Today the past lives on in the Romanesque style which predominates throughout the city, and through the age-old custom of pilgrimage which has ensured that Santiago de Compostela is used to welcoming people from all over Europe. It was proclaimed a Holy City by Pope Callistus II in the 12th century, along with Rome and Jerusalem. Whenever July 25th falls on a Sunday, Santiago de Compostela celebrates its Holy Year. The city is the residence of students, the refuge of pilgrims and the temple of Galician gastronomy. Thanks to its university, which is over 500 years old, the city welcomes more than 30,000 students every year. Two languages are spoken in Santiago and throughout the region: Spanish and Galician. Santiago de Compostela is a very attractive place to study Spanish with many language schools offering a wide range of courses.
Surrounding Areas. Santiago de Compostela is a good starting point for exploring many parts of Galicia: the Rias Baixas, a largely coastal area comprising the five ‘lower estuaries' after which it is named, and which includes the provincial capital of Pontevedra (60 kilometres); medieval fishing villages such as Noia, Portosín and Muros; Sanxenxo (70 kilometres), a tourist resort with beautiful beaches and seafront promenades; Cambados (60 kilometres), home of the albariño grape which is used to make good white wines; O Grove, famous for seafood; the island of La Toja, which attracts many tourists; and the island of Arosa, set in the middle of the estuary of the same name (Ría de Arosa) and a major source of fish and seafood. The Death Coast (La Costa da Morte) is famous for its numerous old lighthouses; Corcubión (75 kilometres), Camariñas and Corme-Laxe, fishing villages which offer the most treasured of all Galician seafood delicacies: goose barnacles (percebes). In the Rias Altas, the area of ‘upper estuaries' which stretches along the north coast, the cities of La Coruña (75 kilometres) and Ferrol, and the towns of Betanzos and Pontedeume, are among the most interesting places to visit.
World Heritage Site. The old quarter has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. El Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, was also awarded this distinction in 1993, having previously been declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe.
Main Sights. Plaza del Obradoiro, the main square in the heart of Santiago de Compostela, is flanked by the cathedral and various palaces; the Cathedral, whose Baroque-style façade dates from the 18th century and was built to protect the original Gothic portico from further exposure to the elements; the 18th century Rajoy Palace; Plaza de Platerías, a square which takes its name from the silversmiths who had their shops here in the Middle Ages, and which affords a view of the Romanesque façade of the cathedral. The old quarter, to the south of the cathedral, is a maze of narrow, winding streets (rúas in Galician) with chapels, churches, convents and monasteries at almost every turn, including the Monasterio de San Martín Pinario, one of the largest religious buildings in Spain; the Monastery and Church of St. Francis of Assisi (Convento e Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís), dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, respectively; the Convento de Santa Clara, a convent built in the 13th century, the Convento de Santo Domingo de Bonaval, a monastery founded in 1220 by Saint Dominic (Santo Domingo de Guzmán), the Monasterio de San Paio de Antealtares... A stroll through the streets of the old town is the best way to enjoy the Santiago's rich architectural and religious heritage while soaking up the bustling atmosphere created by the ever-present mix of students, civil servants and tourists. Parque de la Alameda is a centrally located public park with an excellent view of the Cathedral, while Mount Pedroso offers the best vantage point for a view of the whole city.
Culture. The most important events are the Compostela World Music Festival (Compostela Festival Músicas del Mundo), which coincides with the festivities in honour of Santiago at the end of July, the Contemplative Music Festival (March), which includes concerts and recitals held in various churches, and the Microfest (November), a showcase for hip-hop music. Santiago de Compostela has a number of interesting museums: the Museo do Pobo Galego, situated on a hill outside the walls of the old quarter, is devoted to the history of the Galician people, the Holy Land Museum (Museo de Tierra Santa), the Museum of Sacred Art and the Galician Centre for Contemporary Art. The main venue for theatre performances and concerts is the Teatro Principal.
Shopping. The entire old quarter is a great place for shopping. Here you will find the Mercado de Abastos, a fascinating old market for any visitor. In Rúa Nova there is a small street market which opens every day of the week, with a variety of stalls selling leather goods, handbags, handicrafts, costume jewellery... El Ensanche, in the modern part of the city, is another busy shopping area. The most important shopping centres are Compostela and Área Central.
Gastronomy. Practically every traditional bar and restaurant in the old quarter specializes in wines, tapas and raciones (portions of food which are usually shared), and most of these establishments can be found in Rúa Franco, Rúa da Raíña, Rúa da Troia, Rúa de San Pedro, Porta do Camiño, Rúa Travesa, Plaza de Santo Agostiño and Plaza de San Roque. The most typical products are fresh seafood, such as lobsters, clams, baby scallops, barnacles, small shore crabs, spider crabs... and the famous scallops, whose shell is an emblem of Santiago de Compostela; and different types of fish, such as grouper, turbot, angler fish and hake, all prepared in the traditional Galician style (a la gallega) with scalloped potatoes in a sauce made with olive oil, wine vinegar, garlic and paprika. Other typical dishes are lacón con grelos (a hearty soup-stew of cured pork knuckle and turnip tops), caldo gallego (a soup containing white beans, turnip tops and a ham bone), pulpo a feira (thin slices of boiled octopus served in a paprika-oil dressing) and empanada gallega (a savoury pie filled with meat or fish, peppers and plenty of onion). The local dessert par excellence is an almond sponge cake called tarta de Santiago. The region is famous for two excellent white wines, Albariño and Ribeiro, both with designation of origin, and also produces several good cheeses.
Sports. The local basketball team, Xacobeo, play in the ACB league, the most important in Spain. The city's top football team is Compostela, who recently enjoyed four seasons in the first division. Santiago de Compostela offers a wide range of facilities for activities such as horse riding, swimming, tennis, basketball, fitness training... Both the North and South campuses of the University of Santiago de Compostela are equipped with all kinds of sporting facilities where you can play or learn almost any sport. In the surrounding countryside there are plenty of opportunities for trekking and other outdoor activities.
Fiestas. During the second fortnight of July, the Fiestas del Apóstol Santiago are celebrated in honour of St. James the Apostle. The festivities approach their climax with spectacular firework displays and the burning of a firework reconstruction of the cathedral's Gothic façade. Finally, on the big day itself (25th July), a solemn mass is held in the Cathedral, during which the huge botafumeiro is swung at full speed to fill the temple with incense. The celebrations also include passacaglias, open-air dancing and music in the streets, as well as a wide range of concerts and other activities. Another important fiesta in Santiago de Compostela is Magostos y Castañas (November), when the locals gather in the streets to eat roasted chestnuts, accompanied by wine, homemade chorizo sausages and empanadas. An important part of these celebrations is the queimada, a fiery alcoholic drink which is "cooked" outside in time-honoured tradition. The other major festivities are Holy Week and the annual Carnival.
Transport. There is a sightseeing train which takes tourists on a one-hour tour of the city centre. From Easter to October, the train runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and during the rest of the year the service operates up until 8 p.m. It is easy to get from Santiago de Compostela to other Spanish cities.
Nightlife. Students who decide to study Spanish in Santiago de Compostela will discover a very active nightlife. Thanks to its large student population and the number of tourists it attracts, Santiago de Compostela is a city that never sleeps. The wine and tapas bars are the usual starting point for a night out, and from then on you can simply go from one place to another without ever having to leave the old part of town. Another area with a great party atmosphere is El Ensanche, where you will find numerous establishments catering to all tastes, many of which stay open until the small hours. The college life is a major attraction for the many students who decide to study Spanish in Santiago de Compostela.
General Information. 95,000 inhabitants, although there is a large floating population of students and tourists. 600 kilometres to the northeast of Madrid. Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Galicia. A city of Roman origin, it was one of the bastions of Christianity during the Middle Ages, with its holy temple built around the reputed tomb of Santiago el Mayor (St. James the Greater, one of the twelve apostles), discovered in the 9th century by Theudimer around the time of the Moorish conquest. Today the past lives on in the Romanesque style which predominates throughout the city, and through the age-old custom of pilgrimage which has ensured that Santiago de Compostela is used to welcoming people from all over Europe. It was proclaimed a Holy City by Pope Callistus II in the 12th century, along with Rome and Jerusalem. Whenever July 25th falls on a Sunday, Santiago de Compostela celebrates its Holy Year. The city is the residence of students, the refuge of pilgrims and the temple of Galician gastronomy. Thanks to its university, which is over 500 years old, the city welcomes more than 30,000 students every year. Two languages are spoken in Santiago and throughout the region: Spanish and Galician. Santiago de Compostela is a very attractive place to study Spanish with many language schools offering a wide range of courses.
Surrounding Areas. Santiago de Compostela is a good starting point for exploring many parts of Galicia: the Rias Baixas, a largely coastal area comprising the five ‘lower estuaries' after which it is named, and which includes the provincial capital of Pontevedra (60 kilometres); medieval fishing villages such as Noia, Portosín and Muros; Sanxenxo (70 kilometres), a tourist resort with beautiful beaches and seafront promenades; Cambados (60 kilometres), home of the albariño grape which is used to make good white wines; O Grove, famous for seafood; the island of La Toja, which attracts many tourists; and the island of Arosa, set in the middle of the estuary of the same name (Ría de Arosa) and a major source of fish and seafood. The Death Coast (La Costa da Morte) is famous for its numerous old lighthouses; Corcubión (75 kilometres), Camariñas and Corme-Laxe, fishing villages which offer the most treasured of all Galician seafood delicacies: goose barnacles (percebes). In the Rias Altas, the area of ‘upper estuaries' which stretches along the north coast, the cities of La Coruña (75 kilometres) and Ferrol, and the towns of Betanzos and Pontedeume, are among the most interesting places to visit.
World Heritage Site. The old quarter has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. El Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, was also awarded this distinction in 1993, having previously been declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe.
Main Sights. Plaza del Obradoiro, the main square in the heart of Santiago de Compostela, is flanked by the cathedral and various palaces; the Cathedral, whose Baroque-style façade dates from the 18th century and was built to protect the original Gothic portico from further exposure to the elements; the 18th century Rajoy Palace; Plaza de Platerías, a square which takes its name from the silversmiths who had their shops here in the Middle Ages, and which affords a view of the Romanesque façade of the cathedral. The old quarter, to the south of the cathedral, is a maze of narrow, winding streets (rúas in Galician) with chapels, churches, convents and monasteries at almost every turn, including the Monasterio de San Martín Pinario, one of the largest religious buildings in Spain; the Monastery and Church of St. Francis of Assisi (Convento e Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís), dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, respectively; the Convento de Santa Clara, a convent built in the 13th century, the Convento de Santo Domingo de Bonaval, a monastery founded in 1220 by Saint Dominic (Santo Domingo de Guzmán), the Monasterio de San Paio de Antealtares... A stroll through the streets of the old town is the best way to enjoy the Santiago's rich architectural and religious heritage while soaking up the bustling atmosphere created by the ever-present mix of students, civil servants and tourists. Parque de la Alameda is a centrally located public park with an excellent view of the Cathedral, while Mount Pedroso offers the best vantage point for a view of the whole city.
Culture. The most important events are the Compostela World Music Festival (Compostela Festival Músicas del Mundo), which coincides with the festivities in honour of Santiago at the end of July, the Contemplative Music Festival (March), which includes concerts and recitals held in various churches, and the Microfest (November), a showcase for hip-hop music. Santiago de Compostela has a number of interesting museums: the Museo do Pobo Galego, situated on a hill outside the walls of the old quarter, is devoted to the history of the Galician people, the Holy Land Museum (Museo de Tierra Santa), the Museum of Sacred Art and the Galician Centre for Contemporary Art. The main venue for theatre performances and concerts is the Teatro Principal.
Shopping. The entire old quarter is a great place for shopping. Here you will find the Mercado de Abastos, a fascinating old market for any visitor. In Rúa Nova there is a small street market which opens every day of the week, with a variety of stalls selling leather goods, handbags, handicrafts, costume jewellery... El Ensanche, in the modern part of the city, is another busy shopping area. The most important shopping centres are Compostela and Área Central.
Gastronomy. Practically every traditional bar and restaurant in the old quarter specializes in wines, tapas and raciones (portions of food which are usually shared), and most of these establishments can be found in Rúa Franco, Rúa da Raíña, Rúa da Troia, Rúa de San Pedro, Porta do Camiño, Rúa Travesa, Plaza de Santo Agostiño and Plaza de San Roque. The most typical products are fresh seafood, such as lobsters, clams, baby scallops, barnacles, small shore crabs, spider crabs... and the famous scallops, whose shell is an emblem of Santiago de Compostela; and different types of fish, such as grouper, turbot, angler fish and hake, all prepared in the traditional Galician style (a la gallega) with scalloped potatoes in a sauce made with olive oil, wine vinegar, garlic and paprika. Other typical dishes are lacón con grelos (a hearty soup-stew of cured pork knuckle and turnip tops), caldo gallego (a soup containing white beans, turnip tops and a ham bone), pulpo a feira (thin slices of boiled octopus served in a paprika-oil dressing) and empanada gallega (a savoury pie filled with meat or fish, peppers and plenty of onion). The local dessert par excellence is an almond sponge cake called tarta de Santiago. The region is famous for two excellent white wines, Albariño and Ribeiro, both with designation of origin, and also produces several good cheeses.
Sports. The local basketball team, Xacobeo, play in the ACB league, the most important in Spain. The city's top football team is Compostela, who recently enjoyed four seasons in the first division. Santiago de Compostela offers a wide range of facilities for activities such as horse riding, swimming, tennis, basketball, fitness training... Both the North and South campuses of the University of Santiago de Compostela are equipped with all kinds of sporting facilities where you can play or learn almost any sport. In the surrounding countryside there are plenty of opportunities for trekking and other outdoor activities.
Fiestas. During the second fortnight of July, the Fiestas del Apóstol Santiago are celebrated in honour of St. James the Apostle. The festivities approach their climax with spectacular firework displays and the burning of a firework reconstruction of the cathedral's Gothic façade. Finally, on the big day itself (25th July), a solemn mass is held in the Cathedral, during which the huge botafumeiro is swung at full speed to fill the temple with incense. The celebrations also include passacaglias, open-air dancing and music in the streets, as well as a wide range of concerts and other activities. Another important fiesta in Santiago de Compostela is Magostos y Castañas (November), when the locals gather in the streets to eat roasted chestnuts, accompanied by wine, homemade chorizo sausages and empanadas. An important part of these celebrations is the queimada, a fiery alcoholic drink which is "cooked" outside in time-honoured tradition. The other major festivities are Holy Week and the annual Carnival.
Transport. There is a sightseeing train which takes tourists on a one-hour tour of the city centre. From Easter to October, the train runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and during the rest of the year the service operates up until 8 p.m. It is easy to get from Santiago de Compostela to other Spanish cities.
Nightlife. Students who decide to study Spanish in Santiago de Compostela will discover a very active nightlife. Thanks to its large student population and the number of tourists it attracts, Santiago de Compostela is a city that never sleeps. The wine and tapas bars are the usual starting point for a night out, and from then on you can simply go from one place to another without ever having to leave the old part of town. Another area with a great party atmosphere is El Ensanche, where you will find numerous establishments catering to all tastes, many of which stay open until the small hours. The college life is a major attraction for the many students who decide to study Spanish in Santiago de Compostela.
© TEXT: SPANISH IN TOUR.
VIDEO: Patronato de Turismo de Santiago de Compostela
VIDEO: Patronato de Turismo de Santiago de Compostela
