We show you some places and curious elements that you probably didn't know about the city of Santiago de Compostela.
Santiago de Compostela is a fascinating city with a rich history and a wealth of curiosities. That the Cathedral of Santiago is one of the main attractions of the city is not news, it is believed that the remains of the Apostle St. James are buried in the cathedral which makes it an important place of pilgrimage. At pilgrim masses the botafumeiro is launched, swinging from side to side at an impressive speed. It is quite a spectacle to see it in action. In addition, every 25 July is the feast day of the Apostle St. James, patron saint of Spain. During this week of festivities, the city is filled with cultural activities, music and fireworks. It is a very special time to visit Santiago de Compostela.
In this post we will tell you some curious facts about the city of Compostela.
1. Cathedral roofs
We have all visited the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela at some point in our lives, but probably not many of us have been up on the roofs. The roofs of the Cathedral not only protect the interior of the church from the elements such as rain but also complement and enhance its architecture. They give you a panoramic view of the city. On the tour you climb to an altitude of about 300 metres above the Plaza del Obradoiro and it is a visit well worth making.
2. Symbols engraved on houses
Surely you have walked around Santiago de Compostela and have not noticed the number of symbols carved on the stones or arches of the arcades of the houses. We can find many different symbols such as the following:
- The Chalice: is a symbol rooted in the legend of the Holy Grail and is still used today in the coat of arms and flag of Galicia. In its time it represented the houses that belonged to the city council of Santiago de Compostela.
- Scallop shell: is the symbol of pilgrims. In ancient times it was associated with fertility and the goddess Venus in Greek culture. It was associated with the Camino de Santiago in such a way that some said that these shells were used by pilgrims to drink water from the streams and another theory is associated with the remains of the Apostle Santiago and is seen as a symbol of good luck.
- The pine tree: belongs to the convent of San Martín Pinario. It is present in several entrance roads such as Rúa de San Pedro.
- The cross: present in the dwellings of the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos.
3. The Two Marys
In the Alameda de Santiago park there are two women in the form of sculptures, Maruxa and Coralia, who were two much-loved seamstresses from Santiago de Compostela. They are known as "Las Dos Marías" because they used to walk around this city park wearing heavy make-up and with outlandish and eccentric looks for the time in search of a future husband. They were very modern for the time and even dared to flirt with some young university students who passed by, something unthinkable for women at that time.
4. Pagan Jubilee
Santiago de Compostela is not only a place of pilgrimage but also a university city. Once some university students decided to put out a cigarette on the backside of one of the angels of the capitals of the arcades of the Casa de Varela in the Rúa do Vilar. This became a tradition and is now a ritual for many pilgrims.
5. Goose Game
Some say that the game of Oca has its origins in the Camino de Santiago. Each stage of the Camino is represented in a square on the board, the bridges refer to those existing in the stages of the Camino and the Goose has to do with the evolution of the pilgrim. Also appears the figure of death which is a symbol of Santiago in the step before the end which is Finisterre.
6. Shoes
You may not know this name but it is one of the best known pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela who never made the Camino de Santiago. His name was Juan Carlos Lema Balsas, known as "Zapatones", who was always ready to be photographed in the Plaza del Obradoiro with the pilgrims who finished the Camino. He was dressed in pilgrim's clothing and sported a thick white beard that made him a well-known personality in Santiago.
7. The gargoyles
Look up and notice the gargoyles that abound on the façades of the buildings in the old quarter. You can see them in the area of the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos and the Monasterio de San Martín Pinario, among other buildings in the old town. Some of them appear in the shape of dogs, boars, mermaids or harpies and in the shape of mythological beings. The purpose of these gargoyles was not only aesthetic and to protect the walls from falling water, but also to frighten those who posed a threat.
Conclusions
These are just some of the curious elements that you can find in Santiago de Compostela, so now that you've got to know them, take a good look around the old town and you'll appreciate everything we've told you.
