Santiago de Compostela

 

The Cathedral from a nearby park

Our local guide, Haya, continued her stories today in Santiago de Compostela. Our hotel is only 2 blocks from the old town of Santiago. At the Chapel Maria Salome, we have statues of a Pregnant Mary and one where Jesus is breastfeeding feeding. Haya then told us of the statue of Daniel in the Porto Gloria of the Romanesque church. It was one of the first medieval statues that had a smile rather than a serious, holy look. Opposite Daniel was a statue of a woman with well-formed beasts. The story went around was that Daniel was smiling at this well-endowed woman. The church decided to do the first breast reduction. But can still see the breasts in the local “boobie” cheese.

St James and his disciples dressed as pilgrims

We walked the last kilometer of the Way to reach the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral built over St. James the apostle’s burial site. St James, the apostle, came to this region of Spain spreading the word of Jesus and baptizing the locals. He was called back to Palestine, where he was beheaded. The legend has it that two of his disciples returned his head and body back to Spain. Nine hundred years later a hermit was led to his grave by a star and discovered three bodies including one that had been beheaded. The bishop declared it be the remains of St James. The king declared in 1075 that a Cathedral should be built there.  King Alfonsa II became the first pilgrim to walk the Way. The Baroque façade protects the Roman façade. At the top of the façade under the arch is St. James on either side are his disciples all dressed as pilgrims. The Square of the Workshop not only has the cathedral, it also has a hostel, formerly a hospital for the pilgrims, city hall, and the administration building for the University. In the middle ages. In the middle ages, pilgrims had to undress, burn their clothes, and bathe in the central fountain in the cloister before entering the cathedral.

Pilgrims in the square (city hall behind)

We visited the museum of the church, but pictures weren’t allowed, the cloister, the balcony, then the body of the church. We were able to enter the crypt area and hug the statue of St. James above the altar.

St. James above the altar