Holy year in Santiago de Compostela

Holy year in Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is undoubtedly one of the most important European cities for Catholic culture. Being a pilgrimage point for all those, who want to visit the tomb of the Apostle Santiago el Mayor (James the Great), or for those, who want to contemplate the monuments of this historic city, that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.
 
Moreover, 2021 is the “Xacobeo” (Jacobean Year), in other words a holy year. This occurs whenever July 25th, the day of Santiago Apostol, is Sunday. Due to the special situation of this year, Pope Francis has also declared 2022 as the Jacobean Year.

Undeniably, one of the most representative monuments is the Cathedral, despite being mostly Romanesque in style, also has Gothic and Baroque elements, mainly on the façade that can be seen from the Plaza del Obradoiro. Inside, we can organize, privately, for groups from masses to hiring the use of the “Botafumeiro”, a huge silver censer weighing 62 kgs that’s tied to a 65-meter rope.

The city is an important pilgrimage point for more than 11 centuries, yet the long-gone centuries live on its arcaded streets and unique magnificent stone architecture can be seen and explored by foot. Its restaurants delight groups with impressive local products, such as beef and seafood. As for hotels, there’s a variety from boutique hotels with attention to detail to large hotels with up to 160 rooms with meeting rooms. In addition, the city has its own international airport and is close to other major cities: less than an hour from A Coruña and Vigo, and 2,5 hours from Porto, in Portugal.