subject: Santiago De Compostela Is A Major Tourist Destination From Your Spain Holiday Rentals [print this page] You have chosen Santiago de Compostela as the location for your SPAIN HOLIDAY RENTALS because it is the only major tourist attraction in this part of the country. If you have ever visited this area before, it is interesting to note that the surrounding area and its towns are almost completely devoid of tourists, which is surprising as Santiago de Compostela is doing everything possible to increase its tourist business. Today it has all the mod cons to satisfy any traveller but all this is not new to this ancient city because it is considered to be the world's first major tourist destination.
It all started with the pilgrimage to what is believed to be the burial place of St James. During the Middle Ages from the 9th century to the 16th century there were on average some five thousand people a day travelling here to worship at its shrine. This large number of pilgrims came from places like France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Scandinavia and upon reaching Santiago de Compostela they were absolutely exhausted. On the route pilgrims were easy to spot as they were the ones wearing a heavy cape, long stave, sandals and most importantly they had a felt hat turned up in the front displaying a scallop-shell emblem of St James. This emblem is believed to have existed from the time of the crusade against the Moorish invaders. The importance of the scallop shell is believed to come from a time when Lord of Pimentel was forced to swim across a river only to somehow emerge from the sea on the other side with scallop-shells all over his body: hence the emblem of St James.
When the pilgrims were on this difficult and dangerous pathway the Benedictine and Cistercian monks and the Knights Templar of the Spanish Order of the Red Sword stepped in and gave comfort to the pilgrims. There were even some hospitals and hospices set up to take care of the sick and tired pilgrims.
There were a number of events that occurred from the 16th century which affected the number of people making the pilgrimage. It all came to a head when the relics were taken away for safety purposes only to be lost for 300 years. When rediscovered in 1879 the pilgrimage once again took place which is on the feast day of St James on the 25th of July.
The Square on which Santiago's Cathedral sits offers up an incredible sight when emerging from Calle Franco end of the square, for there in front of you is the Hostal de Los Reyes Catolicos constructed of golden granite. It is reported to be the first hotel in the world and today remains the most beautiful hotel in all of Europe.
Upon visiting the Santiago Cathedral from your SPAIN HOLIDAY RENTALS it is like nowhere else you have ever been before. When you reach the front door of which there are two along with two staircases of enormous value. In the centre of all of this are two twin towers that appear to give flight into the deep blue of the sky above. The twin towers are in a Baroque fashion with all the surface area covered in balls, bells, stars, crosses and a weathercock. All this in a place dedicated to a Saint.
