Galicia things to do
The Auditorium of Galicia is an excellent venue for concerts and exhibitions built by Spanish architect Julio Cano Laso. Guided by a pergola crafted from steel and glass, we now make our way back to the old quarter of Santiago, to be exact to Calle de San Francisco, whose entrance is preceded on the right by the monastery of the same name.
More things to do Spain
According to tradition, the Monastery of San Francisco was founded by St Francis himself on the occasion of his pilgrimage to Santiago in the 13th century. The Neo-classical style church dates from the second half of the 18th century, whereas the monument to St Francis of Assisi, situated in the vicinity of this street was sculpted by Galician artist Asorey in the first third of the present century. Calle de San Francisco, flanked on one side by the Faculty of Medicine (erected from 1910 to 1928) and the Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos, leads us back to the Plaza del Obradoiro.
The next stage of our tour takes us down Avenida de Rajoy, a narrow street that leads off to the right of the University Vice Chancellor's Office (Rectorado de la Universidad) and which offers a marvellous view of the Cathedral. This road brings us out into EI Campo de San Clemente, from where a flight of steps leads up to Plaza de Rodrigo del Padron. Standing at the far side of this square is the Rosalia de Castro Secondary School building, erected in the early 17th century in Plateresque style, which was commissioned by Archbishop Sanclemente to house the Colegio Mayor or university residence that was to bear his name. The main facade of the school building looks out onto La Alameda, without doubt the best park to be found in Santiago.
As we walk around La Alameda, which has a perimeter of around one kilometre, we are afforded a variety of interesting perspectives of the town. Thus, for instance, from the Paseo de la Herradura (also called Paseo de los Leones), a promenade dating from 1853, there is a spectacular panorama of the old town, whilst from the Paseo de las Palmeras, a walkway featuring a monument to poet Rosalia de Castro and a fir tree planted by Eva Peron in 1947, we are greeted by a view of the southern University campus, one which takes in the Faculties of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Pharmacy, Biology, Law, along with several Schools, three University Residences, and a series of sports complexes and other facilities. Within the grounds of La Alameda we find two churches, the 12th century Romanesque Church of Santa Susana, set amidst oak trees at the very heart of the park, and the 18thcentury Baroque Church of EI Pilar, itself lying at the edge of the park, opposite the Mendez Nunez Gardens.
Lying at a distance of between 1 and 6 kilometres from the centre of Santiago are the following points of interest: Colegiata de Sar. Founded in the first half of the 12th century, this originally Romanesque collegiate church is renowned for the leaning piers separating its nave and aisles. The inclination of these members is to be explained by the flexible nature of the clayey soil on which the church was erected. Indeed, in the 16th century part of the nave vault came tumbling down, and later on in the 18th century massive buttresses were built against the church exterior. A number of mural paintings have been discovered in the walls of the central apse (there being three apses in total) and still surviving today is one of the sides of the Romanesque cloister, the remainder of which was reconstructed in Baroque style in the 18th century. The visitor to the church can also take in a monographical museum.
The Monastery of Conjo Galicia
Former Monastery of Conjo. Having been established in the 12th century, this monastery preserves very little of its original Romanesque fabric (certain sections of the cloister), since it was completely rebuilt church and all from the 17th to the 18th century. Up until the 15th century, it was run by a community of Benedictine monks, whereupon it was taken over by Mercedarians. In the second half of the 19th century, the Archbishop of Santiago, Cardinal Paya y Rico arranged for a mental hospital to be set up here, one which would serve the whole of Galicia. Pazo de San Lorenzo de Trasouto. This pazo or rural ancestral home lies on the site of the former homonymous Franciscan monastery that was founded in the 13th century at the edge of an oakwood. Having undergone alterations in the 17th and 18th centuries, nowadays it belongs to the Duchess of Soma. In what was the monastery church there is an interesting retable and two beautiful sepulchres featuring 16thcentury Plateresque statues depicting figures in prayer.
Monte Pedroso. From up on top of this hill we are afforded a superb view of the whole of Santiago and its environs, our field of view stretching out as far as 30 kilometres in some directions. Monte del Gozo (Mount of Joy). This is the hill from which the pilgrims arriving at Compostela on the French Route caught their first glimpse of the town. On the occasion of the Holy Year 1993, this site was to witness the construction of the John Paull! Pastoral Centre, as well as a boarding house and a camping site to cater for pilgrims and tourists alike, the latter having a capacity for 5,000 campers. There is also an openair theatre that can hold up to 20,000 spectators. Lying in the vicinity of Monte del Gozo is the Congress and Exhibition Centre, along with several hotel establishments.
More things to do Spain
According to tradition, the Monastery of San Francisco was founded by St Francis himself on the occasion of his pilgrimage to Santiago in the 13th century. The Neo-classical style church dates from the second half of the 18th century, whereas the monument to St Francis of Assisi, situated in the vicinity of this street was sculpted by Galician artist Asorey in the first third of the present century. Calle de San Francisco, flanked on one side by the Faculty of Medicine (erected from 1910 to 1928) and the Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos, leads us back to the Plaza del Obradoiro.
The next stage of our tour takes us down Avenida de Rajoy, a narrow street that leads off to the right of the University Vice Chancellor's Office (Rectorado de la Universidad) and which offers a marvellous view of the Cathedral. This road brings us out into EI Campo de San Clemente, from where a flight of steps leads up to Plaza de Rodrigo del Padron. Standing at the far side of this square is the Rosalia de Castro Secondary School building, erected in the early 17th century in Plateresque style, which was commissioned by Archbishop Sanclemente to house the Colegio Mayor or university residence that was to bear his name. The main facade of the school building looks out onto La Alameda, without doubt the best park to be found in Santiago.
As we walk around La Alameda, which has a perimeter of around one kilometre, we are afforded a variety of interesting perspectives of the town. Thus, for instance, from the Paseo de la Herradura (also called Paseo de los Leones), a promenade dating from 1853, there is a spectacular panorama of the old town, whilst from the Paseo de las Palmeras, a walkway featuring a monument to poet Rosalia de Castro and a fir tree planted by Eva Peron in 1947, we are greeted by a view of the southern University campus, one which takes in the Faculties of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Pharmacy, Biology, Law, along with several Schools, three University Residences, and a series of sports complexes and other facilities. Within the grounds of La Alameda we find two churches, the 12th century Romanesque Church of Santa Susana, set amidst oak trees at the very heart of the park, and the 18thcentury Baroque Church of EI Pilar, itself lying at the edge of the park, opposite the Mendez Nunez Gardens.
Lying at a distance of between 1 and 6 kilometres from the centre of Santiago are the following points of interest: Colegiata de Sar. Founded in the first half of the 12th century, this originally Romanesque collegiate church is renowned for the leaning piers separating its nave and aisles. The inclination of these members is to be explained by the flexible nature of the clayey soil on which the church was erected. Indeed, in the 16th century part of the nave vault came tumbling down, and later on in the 18th century massive buttresses were built against the church exterior. A number of mural paintings have been discovered in the walls of the central apse (there being three apses in total) and still surviving today is one of the sides of the Romanesque cloister, the remainder of which was reconstructed in Baroque style in the 18th century. The visitor to the church can also take in a monographical museum.
The Monastery of Conjo Galicia
Former Monastery of Conjo. Having been established in the 12th century, this monastery preserves very little of its original Romanesque fabric (certain sections of the cloister), since it was completely rebuilt church and all from the 17th to the 18th century. Up until the 15th century, it was run by a community of Benedictine monks, whereupon it was taken over by Mercedarians. In the second half of the 19th century, the Archbishop of Santiago, Cardinal Paya y Rico arranged for a mental hospital to be set up here, one which would serve the whole of Galicia. Pazo de San Lorenzo de Trasouto. This pazo or rural ancestral home lies on the site of the former homonymous Franciscan monastery that was founded in the 13th century at the edge of an oakwood. Having undergone alterations in the 17th and 18th centuries, nowadays it belongs to the Duchess of Soma. In what was the monastery church there is an interesting retable and two beautiful sepulchres featuring 16thcentury Plateresque statues depicting figures in prayer.
Monte Pedroso. From up on top of this hill we are afforded a superb view of the whole of Santiago and its environs, our field of view stretching out as far as 30 kilometres in some directions. Monte del Gozo (Mount of Joy). This is the hill from which the pilgrims arriving at Compostela on the French Route caught their first glimpse of the town. On the occasion of the Holy Year 1993, this site was to witness the construction of the John Paull! Pastoral Centre, as well as a boarding house and a camping site to cater for pilgrims and tourists alike, the latter having a capacity for 5,000 campers. There is also an openair theatre that can hold up to 20,000 spectators. Lying in the vicinity of Monte del Gozo is the Congress and Exhibition Centre, along with several hotel establishments.
Labels: Monastery of Conjo Galicia
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