For a thousand years, pilgrims have walked across Europe to reach the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, said to hold the remains of the apostle St James. To arrive here by train, after eight days along the coast, is to complete a journey of a different kind.
The Praza do Obradoiro, framed by the cathedral's baroque façade, is one of the great squares of Europe. The surrounding old town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is a maze of granite arcades, scallop-shell waymarks, and the scent of Galician cooking: octopus, empanada, Albariño and the almond tarta de Santiago.
Journey's end
Santiago is the western terminus of the route. Many guests extend their stay to explore the city and the wider Galician coast.
