A major destination, and not one that we particularly loved. Gritty and a bit chaotic. I think you need the weight of a long journey to appreciate it, rather than just driving there. We did really enjoy sitting in the central square and watching the pilgrims arrive at the cathedral.

All roads go to **Catedral de Santiago de Compostela. Begun in 1075, it’s the largest and most fully realized pilgrimage church ever built: barrel-vaulted nave, continuous gallery, transept aisles, ambulatory, all designed to circulate crowds around a shrine. The ornate Baroque façade conceals the Romanesque interior, so plan your approach to seek out the remaining original elements.

We did like the **Parador de SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (aka the Hostal dos Reis Católicos), and had a not great meal with lots of lovely company, hearing about the journeys most of the other people had been on. The Hostal first saw life as a Royal Hospital in 1499 to house the many pilgrims arriving in Santiago. Considered the oldest hotel in the world.