Santiago de Compostela is the capital of an autonomous community called Galicia in Northwestern Spain. It was one of our major stops during a two-week journey that spanned mostly across Northern Spain. Here are five highlights from our time in this majestic region.
1. The Way of St. James
If you're looking for a spiritual journey, you can join more than 300,000 people on the oldest pilgrimage route called The Way of Saint James that leads you to this beautiful city. My husband and I actually had no knowledge of this trek prior to our tour. Santiago de Compostela is considered a sacred place because many people believe that the remains of the Apostle Saint James (one of Jesus' 12 Apostles) is buried at its main cathedral. While my husband and I will probably not go on the pilgrimage ourselves, it was fascinating to watch people from all over the world walking or riding a horse (or a donkey) to their final destination. Some of these modern-day pilgrims have traveled for weeks, even months!
2. Food
One of the first things I remember the most fondly about this place is the food. If you're a seafood fan, there are many options for you to choose from. If you're a wine and cheese lover, you'll be very pleased here. And, if you like Asian food, you actually have options! I write this with a smirk though, because although this was where I finally found a Korean restaurant, I actually could not eat there. Watch my travel vlog to find out why.
3. Shopping!
El Corte Ingles was down the street from our hotel, Tryp Santiago, and it was the first time that my husband and I visited a Spanish shopping center! We had a free day to explore on our own, so we started with lunch there and worked our way down from the houseware department to the grocery store. I think because we traveled through small towns and cities for the past few days, the city girl in me found a place like this to be an oasis. Plus, I love having the time to check out what it's like to shop like the locals, especially when it comes to snacking!
