Historical Tour of Santiago de Compostela

Description

Enjoy a beautiful tour of Santiago de Compostela, home to the most venerated shrine in all Europe during the Middle Ages. This Santiago historical tour will take you through the past of this beautiful town.

Santiago de Compostela is one of the most important cities in Europe and the third most important in the world for Christian pilgrimage. Pilgrims from the four corners of Christendom flocked to visit the magnificent cathedral, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. Beneath the stunning cathedral’s high altar are enshrined the remains of St. James the Apostle, revered by pilgrims that have walked there from all over Europe, since the Middle Ages and continue to do so today.

Starting with a visit to the cathedral, your guide will give you a complete description and will show you the interior, rich with decorations around the high altar and there is plenty of interest to explore. At the base of the central pillar is the Tree of Jesse, where pilgrims have long paused to place a hand, a gesture that, repeated over the centuries, has worn finger-sized indentations in the stone. You will also visit the Jubilee Door which is only opened for the pardons of each Jubilee Year, the tomb of Saint James and perhaps the most important piece of the cathedral, the ‘Portico da Gloria’, whose lintels were laid in place in 1188 and is one of the principal works of Medieval sculpture.

Outside the Cathedral you’ll visit Plaza del Obradoiro and Plaza de Platerias – Santiago de Compostela itself has been declared a national monument and the spacious squares, long stone arcades and surrounding buildings make it one of the most beautiful cities in all of Spain. The squares are situated at two of the four points of the cross-shaped cathedral. Explore the narrow and picturesque streets of the old town with your guide, and stop for local lunch at one of the many excellent restaurants serving Galician dishes, before we return to the port.

Highlights

• Explore the pilgrim city of Santiago de Compostela at the end of the Caminos de Santiago
• Learn about the cult of St. James of the Greater Saracens
• Attend the mass at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
• Marvel at the historical and achitectural beauty the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral has to offer
• Visit the Santiago de Compostela Historical Center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site

What’s included

• Private tour with an official local guide
• Entrance and guided tour of Santiago’s Cathedral
• Comfortable air-conditioned vehicle with a wheelchair ramp and wheelchair tie-downs
• Cruise or hotel pick-up and drop off
• All local taxes

What’s not included

• Personal Expenses
• Tips and gratuities
• Optional activity costs

Additional information

This tour includes private accessible transport for driving to all locations described above. All travelers must note in advance that some locations in Santiago have steep hills, stairs and old stone pavement. However, our itinerary is a selection of those most interesting parts that avoids steps, so we follow a mostly flat path along the tour. It is recommended that some people dependig on their level of mobility, are accompanied to help wheeling along irregular pavement.
Meeting point: Hotel or Cruise Pick-up or Other
Starting time: Flexible
Duration: 4 Hours
Return: We recommend allowing time for a lunch break to sample typical local cuisine and wine at one of our suggested restaurants, equipped with an adapted toilet

Cancellation Policy:
No penalty if cancelling at least 14 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure
50 percent fee if you cancel between 7 and 14 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure
100 percent fee if you cancel within 7 day(s) of the scheduled departure