Santiago de Compostela, the small Galician capital, is a tourist destination that few competitors can match in terms of variety, life and tourist quality. From its cultural and natural resources to its rich gastronomy and ancestral traditions, Santiago has become one of the most valued tourist destinations by its visitors. Not in vain, Galicia is the fourth autonomous community with the highest number of Q’s for tourist quality. More specifically, Santiago has twenty establishments awarded with this recognition. To this we must add, one hundred and fifty-nine with the distinctive Commitment to Quality Tourism. And this is the summary of the success of this destination, the high quality with an increasingly varied offer to satisfy any type of tourist.
Historical Quality
As its main cultural resource, without a doubt, Santiago offers its monumental Romanesque cathedral (with later Baroque reforms) visited every year by thousands of pilgrims who travel all the variants of its spectacular route. The old town offers a multitude of historic buildings surrounded by streets that take us back in history to past times. All this in a space easy to walk, at pleasant distances that allow us to walk through its historic streets and delighting us with every detail.
Gastronomy. Quality and Quantity.
Its gastronomy is an exquisite attraction for any traveller passing through the city. The proximity to the Atlantic coast makes this destination has a wide range of seafood and fresh fish of the highest quality. Seafood can be enjoyed cooked, grilled, in delicious Galician pies, rice dishes and in many other ways. Preferably these dishes are accompanied by a local Albariño in emblematic restaurants such as El Mercadito.
Nor can you miss the tasty and tender Galician octopus in any gastronomic tasting, so popular and widespread throughout the Spanish geography but rarely comparable to that which is prepared in Santiago and, more specifically, in the Pulperia Fuentes. It is modest in its facilities but highly valued by the locals and often overlooked by tourists. Special attention should also be paid to the delicious cheeses that come to Santiago from nearby towns, among which we can highlight the cheese of San Simón cheese, the tetilla and the aforementioned Arzúa-Ulloa. As icing on the cake, we can not fail to try the delicious Santiago’s cake made with almonds, eggs, sugar, butter and cinnamon. To reduce the feast, the best allies will be the Galicianliqueurs and orujos. These are some of the highest quality sites in Santiago.
The Environment.
Santiago’s natural environment is another treasure to explore. The proximity to the rivers Ulla and Tambre. Its irregular relief and the proximity to the coast, place it in the centre for the practice of various activities such as diving, thermalism, river descent, fishing and much more.
In terms of hotel infrastructure, Santiago has more than 120 hotel establishments. Among them are the small charming hotels in the old town or the newly built hotels of well-known hotel chains. The city is well communicated by highways that connect with all the provincial capitals and secondary roads of new construction to visit the nearby towns. The city has an efficient service of city buses and between municipalities, taxis, train station and airport.
Finally, the offer in tourist services will always be available for the tourist. In the city there are numerous associations of guides that make our stay in Santiago not only monumental, but also more meaningful. There are also companies dedicated to the development of nature trails and development of many outdoor activities. They complete the wide offer of a destination envied by its competitors.
