Vigo has been a major Spanish port for centuries, ever since the great Spanish galleons returned there, loaded with treasure and riches from the New World. Nearby is the city of Santiago de Compostela, one of the three main holy cities of Christendom during the Middle Ages. Since then, thousands have walked the long route to St. James' tomb to experience the history, art, and architecture of the "pilgrim's road". This city, Santiago de Compostela, is the place we chose to spend our time while in this port. The ship arrived at the port at 7:30 a.m. I had arranged the tour for 12 of us with Spain Day Tours and we gathered on the ship before proceeding to meet our guide/driver on the dock. Below, our van.
These pictures were taken from the window of the van as we traveled through the city of Vigo making our way toward the city of Santiago de Compostela.
Once in Santiago de Compostela, we parked are began our walk toward the "Old City". Below, our first glimpse of the cathedral. Santiago de Compostela is associated with one of the major themes of medieval history. From the shores of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea thousands of pilgrims carrying the scallop shell and the pilgrim's staff for centuries walked to the Galician sanctuary along the paths of Santiago, veritable roads of faith. Around its cathedral, a masterpiece of Romanesque art, Santiago de Compostela conserves a valuable historic center worthy of one of Christianity's greatest holy cities. During the Romanesque and Baroque periods the sanctuary of Santiago exerted a decisive influence on the development of architecture and art, not only in Galicia but also in the north of the Iberian peninsula.
This is an extraordinary ensemble of distinguished monuments grouped around the tomb of St James the Greater, the destination of all the roads of Christianity's greatest pilgrimage from the 11th to the 18th century. On the "miraculously" discovered spot where the bones of the Apostle had been buried, a basilica was erected in approximately 818 A.D.The oldest monuments date back to this period - the main body of the cathedral, consecrated in 1211, with its admirable Romanesque structure (plan in the form of a Latin cross, choir and radiating chapels, interior space magnified by the great number of galleries) and its sculpted array at the southern arm of the transept. Building continued throughout the 12th century and drew to a triumphal close in 1188 with the erection of the Portico de la Gloria in the main façade.
And, the end portion of "the way".
Below, is the Credencial that pilgrims who walk the way carry on the Camino de Santiago The credencial, also known as the 'pilgrim passport', is a small cardboard booklet that is stamped (where you stay) as proof that you really have walked the Camino de Santiago..
Our guide, who is holding the Credencial (above).
Below, Compostela door (for Carol)
This the tomb of St. James (Santiago).
Outside trim of cathedral.
Below, a replica of the large incense burner that hangs in the cathedral.
I think we returned to our ship very quiet and reflective of this very moving experience...
I close this day with a look at the beauty of our Creator:
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