043 - Santiago de Compostela - Galicia/Spain
All roads lead to Rome, however in modern times, most pilgrims go towards the Atlantic Ocean, and finally stop in this charming, medieval city - named after one of the apostles - Saint James (the Great). This is Santiago de Compostela and let’s discover!
Click here to see the map:
042.1 Best place to start the trip towards Santiago de Compostela is on foot (if possible) from a city in Spain at minimum 100km from the Cathedral. As of 2026, I have not walked the minimum distance, nor have I tested the local international airport, so the only way I arrived here was using the regular speed train and also the high speed version. Those who visited at least another article, probably know that I love trains, so I prefer to ride the train, than use another transportation. This is Santiago de Compostela Train Station.
042.2 Santiago de Compostela Train Station as seen on my first visit - Starting this year, the station would undergo a renovation and more and more of it will be gone by late 2018.
042.3 Right next to the Train Station there is the iconic Galician green ALCO DL500 locomotive.
Back in 2017, this was the first time ever I saw an American diesel locomotive outside books and games. I was so impressed that I wanted it as a scale model (my wife gave it as a gift when we were in Lisbon), and got also a magnet and key chain.
I even made my own version of this locomotive in 3D as probably is already seen at the top of the website (the green train that goes around the hexagon). I did the 3D not only of the locomotive, but also of the vehicle that is also seen here in Santiago de Compostela. This train used to travel from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela and to Ponferrada (future article). Because it is so iconic for Galicia, and I love trains, I did spend more time on it than other locomotives, mostly because the nose of it has most of the details.
042.4 Galician Library and Cultural Center on top of the hill (300m altitude) and the rural area of Santiago de Compostela.
I did 3 trips to Santiago de Compostela and another two just for special festivity. On December 2017, it would have been my 2nd time visiting, and so I already had plenty photos to use for my first blog (colorpixel.org). So I was checking on the map, while still at home, if there is a panoramic view, something that is way better to use as main picture, than the classic view of the Cathedral from the main square. And so with my sister (who came to visit me) we took a super early morning train to Santiago de Compostela, so I can have some warm light, and headed to this hill where the Cultural Centre sits.
042.5 Camera on tripod, sandwich at the ready, sitting on the defrosted ground at 300m altitude - at Espellos panoramic view, I was waiting with my sister for any train to come into my shot. It was a cold and windy morning, but I really think it was worth it. I wish I had some puffy white clouds and maybe a plane, however I am glad I got this image and this is a spot I discovered “alone” (not from other photographer, but by studying a map). Definitely a spot to consider if you stay 2 days in Santiago de Compostela.
042. Colexiata Santa MarÃa a Maior e Real do Sar. On the way back we saw from the street these beautiful arches (different angle) and I knew there has to be an image here. I did a few photos and finally settled on this 135mm zoomed in shot. There are many churches in Santiago de Compostela, and no you should not come this far, only for the church, however you will be much closer to the panoramic viewpoint, so consider also that in your decision to walking up here.
042.7 Rua de Sar - Ponte do Sar - medieval bridge. Also close to the Galician Library/Cultural Center, we found this beautiful medieval bridge that is from the 13th century. It is easy to imagine people pushing carts and travellers coming to Santiago de Compostela on horseback or donkeys. This is one of those images that in my head it looked much better and I was super lucky I came when trees started to change color (in December…) so that I have something else to ornate the frame.
042.8 Plaza Abastos - Rua da Ensinanza. In this one image, it is easy to have a taste of Santiago de Compostela styles: medieval look with the church in the background, the classic Iberian architectural style with white walls, like the tall building on the right side and the more important (for me) - the iconic multi square white windows that are pretty much in all Galicia. Streets are narrow, stone walls are pretty much everywhere and there are many coffee shops with local economy.
042.9 Santiago de Compostela is a very three dimensional city, where either there is a church or administrative building with eye level ornaments, or you need to look up towards the sky and plenty little towers will ornate the horizon, especially close to the old city. I took this photo on the same street as before, however I was really lucky to get these pigeons in the frame.
042.10 Deep in the old city area, streets are even more narrow and is hard to think that cars can come here, and yet it is clean (unlike Paris). This is Xelmirez street on a rainy day in 2017 (photo recovered from my old colorpixel portfolio). The tower at the end of the street, is actually Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.
I made plenty photos of streets in Santiago, however they are not that easy to distinguish mostly because of the monotone template. Sometimes when editing the photos (again in 2026) I had the same feeling like I am in Braga (articles 003-004) or Tui (027). The main giveaways are the visible towers of the Cathedral.
042.11 There are plenty shops for tourists, especially with Santiago Shell merchandise and Celtic symbols. So it was super awesome to see something more original (even if it is again the “standard” blue and yellow) -> Entrance to Zamo Tamay artist shop. This statue I think is on many articles of other travellers/bloggers.
042.12 Cake shop and coffee. In this side of Spain, nuts, chocolate, sugar and bread are the main ingredients of most cakes. Is super rare to find strawberry cream, vanilla cream, pistachio or in fact any other variant. They do have Frozen Yogurt all year, and that is a nice change, however I would have liked also some apple pie, strawberry mini-cakes/tarts. When I came back to France, during Covid, it felt like a whole new world has re-opened :)). Yes, I like sweet stuff.
042.13 Santiago de Compostela Cathedral (viewed close to Alameda park). We have finally reached the middle point of this article, so is time to speak about the main attraction (for most) and that is the Cathedral. I opted for one of my images with a view of the monument from afar, as since it has been renovated, it became harder to make pictures not look like hundreds others.
042.14 Inside the cathedral is very dark, and it is very simple and barren (which is not bad, it makes my praying easier actually).
There are very few places with such Christian significance that contain the remains of an apostle, both in Europe and outside. These people are the engine of the new era in which we live, so yeah sure, we made churches for them, as we used to make temples before, however I was thinking the monument building should be impressive both outside, and inside and more light inside.
I love the outside of the church, I picked to do this building, as a symbol for the whole article, as always in 3D and I picked the hardest side which is also the most easy to recognize. I spent nearly 4 months on that work, and I have an article only on that experience) and oh.. I wish the inside was also wow. In a much later article I will show another treasure in Europe, in Paris actually, and that one is awesome outside, and incredible inside :) the only thing wrong about it is that I cannot sleep inside :))
042.15 Saint James (the Great) statue at the altar is (I think) in real size and also (I think) in gold. It is really impressive and is the only well lit area of the Cathedral. Visitors can walk behind it (when going down to the tomb) and admire the insane detail and craftsmanship. It is impressive in my book.
042.16 Perhaps biggest attraction for Christians: the Saint James tomb. Find the legend how Saint James (the Great) came to Spain, then went back to Judeea, then somehow is here now!
042.17 With the main facade in works (in 2016/17) I was mostly taking pictures of towers and… then I got closer to the Council House of Santiago de Compostela. And just like that I shot another of my favorite photos of this city: Council of … arches.
042.18 Again the City Council building (with the beautiful arches) and peeking central to the frame - The Ferry Wheel, from Alameda Park.
042.19 Many people (pilgrims, tourists, locals) gather during the summer in front of the Cathedral, they talk, play, pray, take selfies and on some days - listen to some Celtic music.
042.19 Many people (pilgrims, tourists, locals) gather during the summer in front of the Cathedral, they talk, play, pray, take selfies and on some days - listen to some Celtic music.
042.21 10th of May 2018 - Ascension day - celebrated outside of the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, where in the previous image the place was empty, with only the fountain visible. Now there is dance, joy and even if is 2018 - notice how there are no phones. Even I felt bad taking a few photos and “missing out”.
042.22 24th to 25th of July 2017 - Apostol’s celebration. This was a midnight show with laser projections and (of course) lots of fireworks. Usually the show is made directly on the facade of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral - however when I visited, it was in renovation. And when the next celebration came… we were actually in preparations to return to France. Anyway, back in 2017 we were in Alameda Park, during the 24th July afternoon and right after midnight, into the 25th of July. The projections were awesome, hard to photograph, however the most remarkable was the super long firework display! It was so long that I had time to stop admiring it, and actually start taking photos, and learn… while taking the photos.
042.23 Artist at Apostol’s Fire (night). Many of the activities (non religious) in the park are classic in Galicia. From churros, “pulpo", and frozen yogurt if you are lucky, ferry wheel and all kinds of machines that spin, rise and then fall with speed, carousels and even a horse carriage I saw. There were many artists painting kids faces, however the one I paid some euros (to help a bit) what this one in my photo, painting names of people with flowers and animals in bright, summer like colours.
042.24 This is the same Alameda Park, as seen in the previous images. It is a fairly “young” park, dating back to early 19th century, and it would have been awesome to say that these are the same trees growing since the legendary forest of Libredon - where the tomb was found.
042.25 Music “Quiosco” inside Alameda Park. Alameda Park is the central park of Santiago de Compostela. All big cities in Spain follow the same blueprint: one big park where people spend their weekends, surrounded by nature, and usually there are plenty species of plants to keep the curious people, curious still. There is at least one church at proximity, whose bells anyone can hear, especially kids, so they know when it is time to stop singing and dancing and instead go home for dinner.
042.26 I am not much of a dancer, I do enjoy music and often (when possible) I stop to listen to music, out in the open, and the bird sounds and the wind in the forest - are just the best music for me. The park “forest” feels enchanted. Trees look more like tree-dancers, with movements not measured in seconds but rather in years. I find it so wonderful how the branches are growing not straight upwards, but with a gentle curve to the side and again another curve and then go upwards until again another curve and suddenly it looks like a cartoonish hair blowing in the wind. So strange, yet natural and beautiful.
042.27 And which enchanted forest does not have red-hat mushrooms? Amanita Muscaria are, obviously, not comestible but they are used for other purposes since they are not fatal. Weirdly, they are associated with many characters, such as Santa Claus, the vikings, and even a childhood influence for me: Csipike.
He is a character of a Hungarian children's story in which he (Csipike) talks with animals, nature, elements and even stars and the sun… One day he comes to the realization that he is responsible for rising/setting the sun, giving the OK to eat to animals and much more… Even the animals come to think of him as maybe someone who is going crazy. When in fact, he might be just… hallucinating because of the mushrooms :)) The story is cute, and I miss listening to the radio adaptation of it. This picture, when I made it, and now that I re-seen it, it brought me back to my early teens.
042.28 Speaking of writers and their children’s stories, this statue is dedicated also to a writer: the grand poet Rosalia de Castro. She is THE writer for the Galician identity and women empowerment and she is quite famous (well… not JK Rowling status) but in countries where Spanish is a thing, it means she is also.
042.29 Yes I have many images in Alameda park, mostly because I’ve seen it pretty much each time I came to the city and as a plus, I find it very charming and beautiful. Santiago’s old town is very… stony and filled with churches, schools, stones, grey and one big cathedral. As I said before, sometimes is hard to convince someone that this is not Braga or Tui. Seeing a birdhouse made from wood, in a “wood” is kinda cute. I wonder if it is really practical, to make something that looks like an apartment building: for birds.
042.30 Back to older photos from Alameda Park (recovered from a dead HDD), I don’t know what plant this is, but I love how I caught the bouncing water droplet. It is easy to find such spots in Santiago, because, as said before, here it rains a lot. So there is moss on many walls and droplets are a thing here.
042.31 I think this is an old Camelia tree. I will show an even bigger one, when we get to the article on Monforte de Lemos.
With this picture I conclude Santiago de Compostela. I have two more images, and if you scrolled past this message you already saw them, if not… is not hard to guess.
Santiago de Compostela can be visited by all, even those who don’t believe in God, or any Church, or Profet/Apostles. The city is friendly for those with wheels (disabled or just with baby strollers) so all ages, or conditions, if they can afford the plane/train/car trip can come here (without having to walk all the way from Portugal or France.
As a photographer, a phone these days (2026) is way better than in 2017, although, for a more natural look, a camera can be a more consistent tool, and a buddy for many years that needs no updates - just care and batteries. That said, I recommend a zoom lens, and a wide lens for street/up close shots. Fisheye is also great, I did use it myself, however you can do without. Depending on weather, consider just zoom and bright lens. Don’t forget that best panoramic view is in Espellos (Galician Culture Centre). During a festivity, it can happen that the royal family visits, and there is soo much crowd here that walking can be as fun as a filled metro car.
042.32 No pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela really ends there. Many, continue after a break and they head towards the end of the land (Terra) - to Fisterra. 100km of walked distance are necessary to get certification in Santiago, and after that many do the extra 90km to Fisterra, to where the legend, actually begins. Fisterra is Spain’s westernmost point, however, Cabo da Roca (023) is by approximately 20 km more western than Fisterra - for all continental Europe-Asia.
042.33 We have friends (they actually godmother and godfather of our kids) who did walk from Baiona to Santiago de Compostela and then they even continued to Fisterra and said that is really impressive to literally reach the edge of the land, on foot, and look into the ocean like that. Probably in a few years, with her husband (again) and her children (first time) she will do again the route, and I hope we can join them on the adventure. It will probably be more noisy :))
042.34 As for me and my wife, after each trip to Santiago de Compostela (with exceptions) we would return home to Vigo, before night fall, so we can see the long sunset as the train would get close to the bay area. I do miss the sunsets in that region, especially while enjoying a good coffee and frozen yogurt (with fruits).
Thank you for reading this article and we hope it helped you, in any way!
MiDe.
Source for the legend: https://followthecamino.com/en/blog/history-of-the-apostle-saint-james/
