Santiago de Compostela - Pilgrimage Museum Museo das Peregrinacións
Santiago is Spain's most celebrated place of pilgrimage, with a magnificent cathedral which is one of the country's outstanding tourist sights. According to legend the Apostle St James the Great (known in Spain as Santiago) preached the Gospel in Spain, and after his martyrdom in A.D. 44 his body was miraculously brought back to Spain, lost for many centuries and then rediscovered in 813 on the site of the present Cathedral.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Thereafter St James became the patron saint of Spain and pilgrims flocked from all over Europe along the Way of St James to visit his shrine, which ranked with Jerusalem and Rome as one of the three great places of pilgrimage in Christendom.
The Pilgrimage Museum was established in 1954. Theme rooms describe the history pilgrimage ritual.
The Pilgrimage Museum was established in 1954. Theme rooms describe the history pilgrimage ritual.
Related Attractions
Fiesta de Santiago
The Apostle's feast day, opened only in a Holy Year feast day, the Fiesta de Santiago, is celebrated with a great procession and the swinging of a huge censer, the Botafumeiro, across the transept of the cathedral.
Hours
Always opened on:
Feast of St James - Christian (July 25)
Holy Year
Under a special privilege granted by Pope Callistus (Calixtus) II, every year in which the feast of St James (July 25) falls on a Sunday is a Holy Year. In the Holy Year of 1993 seven million visitors came to Santiago, 100,000 of whom were issued with "compostelas", pilgri, certificates. The next Holy Year will be 1999.
Hours
Always opened on:
Feast of St James - Christian (July 25)
