Page 71 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

SANTIA GO DE C OMPOSTELA  69

R Colegio de Fonseca The superb church dome and Inside the church is a pantheon of
Rúa do Franco. Open Cloister: 9am– grand interior were designed in famous Galicians – among others,
9pm Mon–Fri; exhibitions: 11am–2pm the 17th century by Bartolomé the local poet Rosalía de Castro is
& 5–8:30pm Tue–Sat, 11am–2pm Sun. Fernández Lechuga. The façade, buried here.
The Colegio arose in the 16th which is supported on massive
century as one of the university columns, is decorated with E Centro Gallego de Arte
buildings. The Renaissance design figures of saints, the evangelists, Contemporáneo
is the work of the architects Juan and the Church Fathers. There Rúa Valle Inclán. Tel 981 54 66 19.
de Alava and Alonso Covarrubias, are two sets of cloisters – one Open 11am–8pm Tue–Sun. 7
and was completed by Rodrigo centred on a Baroque fountain. 8 by appointment only.
Gil de Hontañón. The façade is The monastery building itself Designed by Álvaro Siza, this
decorated with the coat of arms is modest and rather severe. interesting building houses a
of the Fonseca family and modern art centre, whose aim
figures of saints, including the is to present trends in both
Church Fathers of Spanish origin Galician and international art
(St Isidore, St Leander). For a since the 1960s. A variety of
time, the Galician Parliament courses, concerts, workshops,
was housed here. Today the uni­ conferences and film shows are
versity library is located here, offered. The centre also has a
and numerous exhibitions are library, an audiovisual library
held in the elegant cloisters. and a film archive.
E Museo das Peregrinacións R Colexiata Santa María
Praza das Praterias 2. Tel 981 56 61 10. a Real do Sar
Open 9:30am–8:30pm Tue–Sat, Rúa do Sar. Tel 981 56 28 91.
10:15am–2:45pm Sun & public Open winter: 5–7:30pm Mon–Sat,
holidays. & (free Sat pm & Sun). 9am–1:30pm Sun; summer: 6–8:30pm
The Pilgrimage Museum, The Baroque reredos at the Convento de Mon–Sat, 9am–1:30pm Sun. &
devoted to the cult of St James San Martiño Pinario Huge buttressed arches support
and the cultural impact of the walls of this simple 17th­
pilgrimages over the ages, is E Museo do Pobo Galego century collegiate church; they
located inside the Casa Gótica San Domingos de Bonaval. Tel 981 were added in the 17th–18th
(Gothic House). The eight 58 36 20. Open 10:30am–2pm & centuries when the walls and
rooms contain exhibits that 4–7:30pm Tue–Sat, 11am–2pm Sun. interior columns began to lean
describe the beginnings of the 8 & (free Sun). dangerously. Near the main
apostle’s cult and the history of Housed inside the 17th­century entrance stands a 12th­century
pilgrimages. They also display Convento de Santo Domingo de baptismal font. Through the
the iconography of St James Bonaval, this museum has an sacristy you emerge onto the
(including several sculptures and interesting collection of pieces cloisters, one wing of which is
Santiago Peregrino – the famous illustrating the social history of the only surviving Romanesque
painting by Juan de Juanes) and Galicia. The thematic layout building of this kind in Galicia.
even musical instruments covers subjects ranging from the Other elements of the building
reproduced from the cathedral’s sea to the countryside, traditional date from the 17th and 18th
Pórtico da Gloria. The museum occupations, costumes, music, century. The sacristy and
library has a rich collection of architecture, painting and cloisters house liturgical and
books, journals and photographs sculpture throughout Galicia. archaeological museums.
connected with St James.
The Legend of St James
R Convento de San
Martiño Pinario According to legend, the apostle St James was
Praza da Inmaculada 5. Tel 981 58 30 responsible for bringing Christianity to Spain.
08. Open Oct–mid­Jun: 11am–1:30pm Though martyred in Palestine around AD 45,
& 4–6:30pm Tue–Sat, 11am–1:30pm centuries later it was said that before his death
Sun; mid­Jun–Sep: 11am–1:30pm & the saint had visited Spain to bring the Gospel
4–7pm daily. & to her people, and that after his death his body
The imposing Benedictine had been brought to Galicia on a ship led by
monastery complex of San angels. In 814 a hermit claimed to have been
Martiño Pinario occupies more guided to rediscover the saint’s tomb by a
shower of stars – (compostela means “field
space than the cathedral itself. of stars”) – and the bishop declared the
Its construction began during miracle genuine. The tomb rapidly became
the Renaissance period, but it a centre of pilgrimage.
was given its current Baroque
appearance by Gabriel Casas St James (Santiago), the patron saint of Spain
and Fernando Casas y Novoa.

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