Things to do in Camino de Santiago de Compostela | Spain

Santiago de Compostela is considered to be one of the holiest places on Earth.  This is because it is said to entomb the remains of Saint James, who walked such great distances to spread the word of God to all of men.  Traveling here can be quite an experience that rewards people with a whole new sense of spirituality, one that can simply affect their lives for the better.  It makes for the perfect destination if a person wants to appreciate the great outdoors and also be treated to a hiking challenge.  This is the destination for many pilgrims who wish to reflect and become spiritually attuned with God, especially by way of the El Camino, which is Santiago’s only major tourist attraction.  However, that doesn’t mean that’s all there is to the city.  In fact, one can simply indulge in a variety of things to do when they visit Santiago.  Below are just some things to look forward to among people planning to visit this town in Galicia, Spain.

Santiago de Compostela, Spain by Alquiler de Coches

• Every place in the world has its own gastronomic pleasures to provide to guests from other places, therefore it makes perfect sense for travelers and holiday makers to try out the edible goodies of Galicia.  It is simply recognized for the unique set of seafood, with octopus being the main attraction.  Of course, this is very much like a slippery version of calamari, which can be off putting to some people.  However, there are also some other dishes that one can try out.

• There are a few events that can prove fascinating to curious guests, and one of them is the Queimada.  This is a traditional practice in which one engages in a bit of drinking with the rest of the locals and other travelers.  At the same time, it is also a ritual which is intended to fend off evil spirits.  This can be quite entertaining to say the least, and one would certainly learn a whole lot about Galician culture.

• Of course, since one would travel to Galicia to enjoy the best experiences that it has to offer, it would be suitable to take a trip to Santiago de Compostela indeed.  For many of the locals, they would have to travel straight from their homes, while pilgrims and hikers would start off their journey to the town from the French regions of the Pyrenees mountains.  It is a 500 mile walk, which can prove quite challenging for some.  However, the minimum distance that one can travel in order to be recognized as following “the Way of Saint James”, is 100km.  it would usually take travelers 3 to 4 days, and they would be treated to a certificate that congratulates them for making it that far.

There is so much adventure awaiting tourists, and it can even prove to be an experience unlike any other. These are just some of the things that one should get involved in when they’re planning to do the El Camino.  The spiritual gratification and fulfillment from traveling to Santiago will certainly have an impact on people’s lives for the better.

Leslie loves hill walking and writing his routes on the web.  He has been running the main Camino de Santiago and Walking in Scotland site since 2006. Click on El Camino to know more interesting facts.

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Category: Cities, Cities