Location: Santiago de Compostela
Top Things to do in Santiago de Compostela
Top Restaurants in Santiago de Compostela
Top 10 Museums in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia
If you see nothing else in this World Heritage city, you simply must visit the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, an awe-inspiring confection of baroque architecture. Once you’ve regained composure, head out on a bicycle to see the rest of this glorious city. Foodies and boozehounds will delight in a guided gastronomy tour, while modernists will enjoy the Galician Center of Contemporary Art.
Restaurants in Santiago de Compostela
1. Museo do Pobo Galego
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 570 reviews
The Museum of Galician People was created in 1976 with the objectives of research and the preservation, dissemination, defence and promotion of Galician culture in all areas, and, specifically, to create and develop a museum at the service of these goals. The first rooms were opened in 1977. The Museum has permanent galleries dedicated to the sea, the trades, the land, el costume, the music, al habitat and architecture, the society and the press and printing. The criterion used in its creation aims to provide an overall view of all the different facets that define the culture of Galicia. Far from enclosing this complex cultural phenomenon within the physical realm of the museum, the aim is to provide a compendium of the diversity of Galicia which can serve as a reference for evaluating the variety of forms within the group and to encourage interest in first-hand knowledge and the search for future alternatives.
Reviewed By FJGonzalezG - Bethesda, United States
The Museo do Pobo Galego is housed in the Convent of San Domingos de Bonaval, outside the old walled city near the Porta do Camiño (gate to the Camino Francés). This is an ethnographic museum on the Galician people and their culture, which for centuries has included migration to other parts of Spain and the Americas. This part is interesting, but the highlight is a magical triple helical staircase of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the work of architect Domingo de Andrade. The stairwell swirls with three separate ramps that lead to different floors. Supposedly, the idea was to provide privacy, though I suspect it also provided segregation of ranks or classes. The rungs of the ladder are said to be made of a whole piece, set in an outer rib fit without joining the wall or each other. My wife and I explored the stairs like children, eventually making our way to the top floor, from where you have a great roof-top view of the city.
2. Museo Catedralicio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 363 reviews
Reviewed By rayporsche - Ottawa, Canada
This museum is located on the gallery floor above the street level of the Cathedral de Compostela. The museum contains rare historical artifacts and dramatic presentations of religious memorabilia, illustrates the evolution of the Cathedral and of the citystate from the first humble monument to Saint James up to the present era. The art here is gorgeous. You wander through the museum at your own pace, absorb what you wish and learn about the past in this historical venue. The Cathedral may be closed for renovation through much of 2019-2020 so this museum will be a worthwhile educational and tourist stop in the interim.
3. Museo Casa de la Troya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
The Casa de la Troya Museum is located in the heart of Santiago de Compostela old town, very close to the church of St. Martin Pinario the Cathedral. The museum re-creates the environment and decoration of a students' dormitory and Santiago's university life of late 19th century. The recreation is based in the novel by Alejandro Pérez Lugín “La Casa de la Troya” (House of the Troy). From 1886 to 1906 the house was a guest house for students. The 90s restoration reconfigured the rooms and chambers just like the guesthouse that appears in the novel. Following the reception in the ground floor, the first floor reproduces the former hall and study area (apart from being the rehearsal room for the Tuna of Santiago at some point) and the respect hall, the space for receiving the students' families. In the second floor the visitor will see the bedroom. The kitchen is located in attic the highest part of the house. The visits are guided and last approximately 20 minutes.
4. Museo de Historia Natural
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By Marsha519 - Pacific Grove, United States
Decided to visit this while in town and staying close by in a hotel. Unique exhibits with lots of very interesting things to see.
5. Sargadelos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By BuenosAiresFoodie - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fell in love with the Sargadelos ceramics during my time living in Galicia. This store has a wide variety of their items and ended up buying a few.
6. Museo das Peregrinacions e de Santiago
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 270 reviews
Reviewed By 227ianc - London, United Kingdom
The Museo das Perigrinacions first opened in 1956 in a building known as Casa Gotica which it still occupies as its administration and library while the museum itself moved in 2015 to a new building, formerly the Bank of Spain, which was completely refurbished by architect Manuel Gallego Joretto. The museum tells the story of the finding of the tomb in the 9th century which is thought to be that of Saint James, the beginnings and development of the pilgrimages routes from all over Europe, including a modern work 'Ultreia' (the greeting made by pilgrims) created from walking sticks donated by pilgrims. In doing so, it also tells the story of Santiago and its development around the Cathedral. Also on display is a temporary exhibition of powerful black and white photographs by Christina Garcia Rodero from the city of Lalibela, a sacred place for Ethiopian Christianity, with a landscape and way of life that goes back into the mists of time. Definitely worth visiting, with much to see..
7. Museo Pedagoxico de Galicia
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 24 reviews
8. Centro Galego de Arte Contemporanea
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 123 reviews
Reviewed By 227ianc - London, United Kingdom
The two adjacent buildings are strange bedfellows - on one side of the narrow street is the dark sombre stonework of the old Convent of San Domingos de Bonaval (part of which is now the Museo del Pueblo Gallego), enlivened by the architectural detailing around the doorways, and dating back to 1228, the inside being less exuberant and more restrained than some of the other monasteries in Santiago with their Baroque richness; - on the other side the dark sombre worn concrete of the Galician Contemporary Art Museum (GGAC) designed by the well-known modernist Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza who has was awarded the Mies Van der Rohe prize in 1988 and the Pritzker prize in 1992. If you can I recommend that you visit both (but check opening times). You can see the chapel inside the Convent without paying the admission fee to the museum itself. The CGAC's series of interconnected spacious galleries on the upper floors with more intimate spaces below allows it to run a programme of changing exhibitions with a flow through the building, starting and returning to the main entrance with a focus on strengthening Galicia as an international centre for contemporary and also showing art that connects to social issues of our time. Currently the visitors flows through four different and fascinating exhibition, one 'We Refugees' focused on Immigration - not making political statements, but reflecting on the reality of the harsh life for immigrants and for refugees who have greater international protection -, one showing installation works by the artist Angela Ferreira whose work links to issues in Africa and another by Christian Villamide which focuses on how humans have lost the connectivity with their natural environment. A fourth installation of photographs and video by Max de Esteban explores digital technology and its impact on people and cities. If you have an interest in contemporary art, it is well worth making the journey to visit the Centre.
9. Museo Eugenio Granell
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 4 reviews
10. Trinta Arte Contemporanea
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 1 reviews
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