{"id":4532,"date":"2024-08-05T13:32:43","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T11:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/?p=4532"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:35:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T09:35:58","slug":"the-7-curiosities-of-santiago-de-compostela","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/las-7-curiosidades-de-santiago-de-compostela\/","title":{"rendered":"The 7 curious facts about Santiago de Compostela"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Contents\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #2b2b2b;color:#2b2b2b\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #2b2b2b;color:#2b2b2b\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/las-7-curiosidades-de-santiago-de-compostela\/#te_ensenamos_algunos_lugares_y_elementos_curiosos_que_seguro_desconocias_de_la_ciudad_compostelana\" >We show you some places and curious elements that you probably didn't know about the city of Santiago de Compostela.<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/las-7-curiosidades-de-santiago-de-compostela\/#1_cubiertas_de_la_catedral\" >1. Cathedral roofs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/las-7-curiosidades-de-santiago-de-compostela\/#2_simbolos_grabados_en_las_casas\" >2. Symbols engraved on houses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/las-7-curiosidades-de-santiago-de-compostela\/#3_las_dos_marias\" >3. The Two Marys<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/las-7-curiosidades-de-santiago-de-compostela\/#4_jubileo_pagano\" >4. Pagan Jubilee<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/las-7-curiosidades-de-santiago-de-compostela\/#5_juego_de_la_oca\" >5. Goose Game<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/las-7-curiosidades-de-santiago-de-compostela\/#6_zapatones\" >6. Shoes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/las-7-curiosidades-de-santiago-de-compostela\/#7_las_gargolas\" >7. The gargoyles<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/las-7-curiosidades-de-santiago-de-compostela\/#conclusiones\" >Conclusions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"te_ensenamos_algunos_lugares_y_elementos_curiosos_que_seguro_desconocias_de_la_ciudad_compostelana\"><\/span>We show you some places and curious elements that you probably didn't know about the city of Santiago de Compostela.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>In this post we will tell you some curious facts about the city of Compostela.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_cubiertas_de_la_catedral\"><\/span>1. Cathedral roofs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_shadow_3d  vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/curiosidadescubiertas-1024x538.jpg\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large\" alt=\"The 7 curious facts about Santiago de Compostela\" title=\"curiosidadescubiertas\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/curiosidadescubiertas-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/curiosidadescubiertas-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/curiosidadescubiertas-768x403.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/curiosidadescubiertas-18x9.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/curiosidadescubiertas.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"  data-dt-location=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/las-7-curiosidades-de-santiago-de-compostela\/curiosidadescubiertas\/\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_simbolos_grabados_en_las_casas\"><\/span>2. Symbols engraved on houses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Chalice:<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Scallop shell:<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The pine tree:<\/strong> belongs to the convent of San Mart\u00edn Pinario. It is present in several entrance roads such as R\u00faa de San Pedro.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The cross:<\/strong> present in the dwellings of the Hostal de los Reyes Cat\u00f3licos.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_shadow_3d  vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/curiosidadeslasdosmarias-1024x538.jpg\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large\" alt=\"The 7 curious facts about Santiago de Compostela\" title=\"curiositieslasdosmarias\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/curiosidadeslasdosmarias-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/curiosidadeslasdosmarias-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/curiosidadeslasdosmarias-768x403.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/curiosidadeslasdosmarias-18x9.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/curiosidadeslasdosmarias.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"  data-dt-location=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/las-7-curiosidades-de-santiago-de-compostela\/curiosidadeslasdosmarias\/\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_las_dos_marias\"><\/span>3. The Two Marys<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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 Mar\u00edas\" 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.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_jubileo_pagano\"><\/span>4. Pagan Jubilee<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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 R\u00faa do Vilar. This became a tradition and is now a ritual for many pilgrims.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_juego_de_la_oca\"><\/span>5. Goose Game<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_zapatones\"><\/span>6. Shoes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_las_gargolas\"><\/span>7. The gargoyles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Look up and notice the gargoyles that abound on the fa\u00e7ades of the buildings in the old quarter. You can see them in the area of the Hostal de los Reyes Cat\u00f3licos and the Monasterio de San Mart\u00edn 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.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"conclusiones\"><\/span>Conclusions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_message_box vc_message_box-standard vc_message_box-rounded vc_color-info vc_custom_1677349996328 infobox\" ><div class=\"vc_message_box-icon\"><i class=\"fa fa-solid fa-circle-info\"><\/i><\/div><p>Do you want more info? Send us an <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?phone=34603040475&amp;text=%C2%A1Hola!%20Quiero%20m%C3%A1s%20informaci%C3%B3n%20para%20hacer%20una%20reserva\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>WhatsApp<\/b><\/a> at <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?phone=34603040475&amp;text=%C2%A1Hola!%20Quiero%20m%C3%A1s%20informaci%C3%B3n%20para%20hacer%20una%20reserva\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>603040475<\/b><\/a> to receive our audio newsletter and a text with all the dates for this season or fill in the form below. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/reservation\/\">our form<\/a><\/strong> if you want to be one more of our travelling community.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4538,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camino-de-santigo","category-17","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4532","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4532"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4532\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5757,"href":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4532\/revisions\/5757"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.viajeroscanallas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}