Santiago de Compostela history

The Birth of the City: From Legend to History

The history of Santiago de Compostela is unique in that the city did not emerge as a military outpost or a trade hub, but as a sacred centre that grew around one of the major Christian shrines.

• Time of foundation: Early 9th century (approximately 813).
• Key event: According to tradition, the hermit Pelayo, guided by a bright star, discovered a tomb hidden in the forest. Bishop Teodomiro of Iria Flavia recognised the find as the relics of the Apostle James.
• First structures: King Alfonso II of Asturias, upon learning of the miracle, ordered the construction of the first church on this site, which marked the beginning of the settlement.

Factors of Formation and Growth

The rapid development of Santiago de Compostela was driven by a combination of religious zeal and political calculation:

• Political strategy: Asturian and Leonese monarchs made the cult of Saint James a symbol of the unification of Christian lands and a spiritual pillar during the Reconquista period.
• Geography of pilgrimage: The city became the final destination of the famous Way of Saint James (Camino de Santiago). This transformed the remote region of Galicia into a bustling crossroads of European routes.
• Protection and status: The transfer of the episcopal seat from Iria Flavia to Santiago in the 11th century definitively secured the city's status as the religious capital of the region.

Early Cultural and Economic Character

Already in the early Middle Ages, the city acquired features that distinguished it from its neighbours:

• Hospitality economy: The entire life of the city was built around serving thousands of pilgrims. Inns, hospitals, the trade in souvenirs (the famous scallop shells), and currency exchange developed actively.
• Cultural synthesis: Thanks to the constant influx of people from France, Italy, and Germany, Santiago became a centre for the exchange of knowledge, architectural styles, and musical traditions.
• Urban planning: The commencement of the grand Romanesque cathedral's construction in 1075 defined the architectural appearance of the city for centuries to come, attracting the best craftsmen in Europe.

Chronology of City Development

• 813: The hermit Pelayo discovers an ark containing relics attributed to the Apostle James, which becomes the starting point in the settlement's history.
• 899: King Alfonso III consecrates a new basilica built on the site of the original chapel to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims.
• 997: The troops of Al-Mansur capture and burn the city, yet the mausoleum with the relics itself remains untouched.
• 1075: Construction of the current majestic cathedral in the Romanesque style begins under the patronage of King Alfonso VI.
• 1120: Pope Callixtus II elevates Santiago de Compostela to the rank of an archbishopric, strengthening its political influence.
• 1188: Master Mateo completes work on the Portico of Glory — a masterpiece of sculpture adorning the main entrance to the cathedral.
• 1495: The University of Santiago de Compostela is founded, eventually becoming one of the most prestigious educational institutions in Spain.
• 1589: The relics of Saint James are hidden due to the threat of invasion by the English privateer Francis Drake and are considered lost for three centuries.
• 1750: Construction of the famous Baroque Obradoiro façade is completed, radically changing the exterior appearance of the cathedral.
• 1879: During restoration works, the relics of the Apostle are rediscovered, and their authenticity is soon confirmed by the Vatican.
• 1981: With the adoption of the Statute of Autonomy of Galicia, the city officially becomes the administrative capital of the region.
• 1985: The historic city centre is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list as a unique architectural ensemble.
• 2000: Santiago de Compostela is chosen as one of the European Capitals of Culture, attracting a new wave of international attention.

Key Milestones of Development and Transformation

Santiago de Compostela has come a long way from a sacred site in the forest to a modern European capital. Several fundamental stages can be identified that radically changed the city's economy, architecture, and status:

• Establishment of the Pilgrimage Economy (11th–12th centuries). The popularity of the Way of Saint James turned the city into a thriving trade hub. Urbanisation proceeded at a rapid pace: a dense network of streets formed around the cathedral with inns, money changers' shops, and artisans' workshops specialising in serving pilgrims (especially silversmiths and stone carvers).
• Transformation into an Educational Centre (1495). The founding of the university became a crucial cultural milestone. The city ceased to live exclusively by religion; the emergence of a student community and academic elite stimulated the development of printing, science, and secular culture, making Santiago the intellectual heart of Galicia.
• The "Baroque Revolution" in Architecture (17th–18th centuries). A period of economic stability allowed the church to invest vast sums in urban planning. It was then that the city received its current monumental appearance: Romanesque austerity was hidden behind lavish Baroque façades, main squares around the cathedral were designed, and large monasteries, such as San Martín Pinario, were rebuilt.
• Revival after Decline (Late 19th century). After a difficult period of Napoleonic wars and a decrease in the flow of pilgrims, the rediscovery of the Apostle's relics in 1879 became the catalyst for a new stage of development. This event returned international attention to the city and launched processes for the restoration of historical monuments.
• Political Centralization (1981). Obtaining the status of the capital of the Autonomous Community of Galicia led to large-scale administrative and urban planning changes. Government institutions (Xunta de Galicia) and the parliament were located in the city, which entailed the development of modern infrastructure and the expansion of residential areas outside the historic centre.
• Globalization of Tourism (from 1993). The active promotion of "Holy Years" (Xacobeo) at the state level and the development of the Camino route network transformed the city into a world-class tourism brand. This led to the modernisation of the transport system (including a new airport terminal and railway station) and significant growth in the service sector.

Architectural Chronicle in Stone

The urban development of Santiago de Compostela is a history of layered eras, where the medieval street structure blends harmoniously with the lavish façades of later times. The city developed concentrically around its main shrine — the cathedral, forming a dense network of narrow granite streets ("rúas"), protected by arcades from the frequent Galician rains.

Main Architectural Styles and Eras

The city's appearance was formed over a millennium, turning Santiago into a veritable open-air textbook of architecture:

• Romanesque Style (11th–12th centuries)

  The foundation of the old city. This is the era of severe monumentality and the beginning of the great pilgrimage. The main monument is the Cathedral of Santiago (its internal structure and layout), as well as the Church of Santa María del Sar with its unique leaning columns. The layout of the historic centre with streets like Rúa do Vilar and Rúa Nova also dates back to this period.

• Gothic and Renaissance (14th–16th centuries)

  The period when the city began to acquire civil and educational institutions.
  Landmark buildings:

  • Hostal de los Reyes Católicos — a masterpiece of Plateresque (Spanish Renaissance), built as a hospital for pilgrims.
  • Colegio de Fonseca — a university building with an elegant inner courtyard.

• Baroque (17th–18th centuries)

  The "Golden Age" of Santiago's architecture. It was the Baroque that gave the city its recognisable solemn appearance. Masters of that time "dressed" the severe medieval walls in luxurious decorations, using local granite, which over time becomes covered with a noble patina and lichen.
  Landmark buildings:

  • The Obradoiro façade of the Cathedral — the city's calling card.
  • The Monastery of San Martín Pinario — the second-largest religious complex in Spain after El Escorial.
  • Casa del Cabildo on Platerías Square — a façade-building created exclusively to adorn the city square.

• Neoclassicism (18th–19th centuries)

  A style of order and symmetry that completed the formation of the city's main square.
  Landmark buildings: The Pazo de Raxoi (Raxoi Palace) opposite the cathedral, which now houses the City Hall and the Galician government. Its strict lines create an interesting contrast with the Baroque exuberance of the cathedral.

• Modernism and Contemporary (20th–21st centuries)

  Outside the historic core, the city developed according to "Ensanche" (expansion) plans, and in the 21st century, it made a statement with bold architectural experiments.
  Landmark objects:

  • City of Culture of Galicia (Cidade da Cultura) on Mount Gaiás — a massive deconstructivist complex by architect Peter Eisenman, whose forms replicate the relief of the hills and the outlines of a sea shell.
  • Galician Centre of Contemporary Art (CGAC) — a work by Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza, delicately integrated into the historical context next to the San Domingos de Bonaval park.

Notable Figures in the City's History

The history of Santiago de Compostela is inextricably linked with the names of saints, architects, and writers who turned this city into a spiritual and cultural centre of Europe.

• Apostle James (Santiago)
  Patron Saint of Spain and Pilgrims
  The figure without whom the city would not exist. According to tradition, his relics rest in the Cathedral. The veneration of Saint James became the basis for the emergence of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, which shaped medieval Europe.
• Bishop Teodomiro
  Bishop of Iria Flavia (9th century)
  A key historical figure at the moment of foundation. It was he who, in 813, recognised the authenticity of the burial found by the hermit as the tomb of the Apostle and reported this to King Alfonso II, launching the process of building the first temple.
• Diego Gelmírez
  First Archbishop of Santiago (12th century)
  The most influential prelate in the city's history. He turned Santiago into an archbishopric, began the large-scale construction of the Romanesque cathedral, developed infrastructure for pilgrims, and even built the first Galician fleet to protect the coast.
• Master Mateo (Maestro Mateo)
  Architect and Sculptor (12th century)
  A brilliant medieval master who oversaw the completion of the cathedral's construction. His main legacy is the Portico of Glory (Pórtico de la Gloria), considered the pinnacle of Romanesque sculpture in Spain.
• Rosalía de Castro
  Poetess and Writer (19th century)
  The main voice of Galicia and a key figure of the "Rexurdimento" (revival of Galician literature). Although she was not born in the city itself, her life and death are closely tied to Santiago. She is buried in the Pantheon of Illustrious Galicians in the Convent of San Domingos de Bonaval.
• Ramón María del Valle-Inclán
  Playwright, Novelist, and Poet (1866–1936)
  One of the brightest representatives of Spanish modernism and the "Generation of '98". He studied at the University of Santiago, visited frequently, and passed away in one of the city's clinics. His bronze statue in Alameda Park has become one of the symbols of the city.