Tuesday, April 22 – Off to Valencia –

It seems auspicious that I should be in such a Catholic center of reverence when Pope Francis left this earthly world on Easter weekend, 2025.  Rest In Peace, compassionate and inclusive follower of Jesus Christ – not only in words – especially in your exemplary walk of faith in today’s world.

A little plagiarism today…  I am not sure where I stole this from – it was a “cut and paste” in my notes, yet I’d still like to share it:  “This liturgical season is meant to be a dark time, when we turn inward to confront our own failings and feel the burden of sin upon the world.  The contrast of the bright green invading grass against the weathered bricks and flagstones found its way into the cracks of my heavy heart. When I had completed the path into the center and back out again, the message inside me was a simple, Just keep going.”

Also, From whc.unesco.org:  

Santiago de Compostela (Old Town)

This famous pilgrimage site in north-west Spain became a symbol in the Spanish Christians’ struggle against Islam. Destroyed by the Muslims at the end of the 10th century, it was completely rebuilt in the following century. With its Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings, the Old Town of Santiago is one of the world’s most beautiful urban areas. The oldest monuments are grouped around the tomb of St James and the cathedral, which contains the remarkable Pórtico de la Gloria.

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) is located in Galicia, situated in the far north-west of Spain.

In the beginning of the 9th century, a hermit called Pelagius saw a mysterious light shining over a Roman tomb forgotten in the middle of a forest. Very soon, the incredible news spread all over the Christian world: the tomb of St. James the Greater, the beloved apostle of Jesus Christ, had been discovered in a far site near the finis terrae, the end of the known Earth, in the northwest of Iberian Peninsula. A few years later, this site became a famous pilgrimage town, one of the most important of Christianity. Pilgrims came from all over Europe following the Camino de Santiago to reach the city born around the Holy Tomb, exercising a great influence on the surrounding area. This is evidenced in the small towns, churches, hospitals, and monasteries that were built near the Camino to attend to the thousands of pilgrims who came to visit the tomb. This influence in the local architecture and art was especially strong and long-lasting in the north-west of Spain, but the fame and the reputation of the sanctuary of Santiago de Compostela went well beyond; Galicia was even known in the Nordic sagas as Jakobsland.

This famous pilgrimage site also became a symbol in the Spanish Christians’ struggle against Islam. Destroyed by the Muslims at the end of the 10th century, it was completely rebuilt in the following century.

The Old Town of Santiago de Compostela, together with the outlying Santa Maria de Conxo Monastery, constitutes an extraordinary ensemble of distinguished monuments. The squares and narrow streets of the Old Town contain Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassicist buildings. This town is not only a harmonious and very well preserved historical city, but also a place deeply imbued with faith. The cathedral, considered as a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, keeps the remarkable Pórtico de la Gloria, a jewel of the medieval sculpture. However, the authentic symbol of the city is the Baroque western façade of the cathedral, which forms one of the sides of the square of Obradoiro, one of the world´s most beautiful urban areas.

The phenomenon of pilgrimage is not only a relevant historical fact, but also a continuous movement thanks to the celebration of the Holy Years.”

It feels a little hollow this time, there’s construction all around, and commercialism abounds, yet it has been a treat the last couple of times I’ve finished the Camino as well as this to stay at Parador de Santiago de Compostela, “the oldest hotel in Spain”.  “It began as a Royal Hospital with the Catholic Monarchs to offer them shelter and today it’s known as Hostal dos Reis Católicos. The historic building preserves the Plateresque façade on the outside, four cloisters, elegant corridors and hallways, spectacular rooms, and a museum in its interior.” “The Hotel has the largest collection of Madrid School paintings in the Paradors collection. In Santiago de Compostela alone, more than 140 works by artists including Martínez Novillo, Álvaro Delgado and Menchu Gal are on display.” (Paradores.es).  

“The monumental structure of the Royal Hospital, once transformed into the Hostal dos Reis Católicos, would require an appropriate interior, filled with special touches and art. And so, while construction work was proceeding apace, a meticulous analysis was made of the building’s decorative aspects.

Function rooms, guest rooms, dining rooms and arcades were filled with grand tapestries, paintings in the classical style with portraits of historic personages, more than 600 works by contemporary artists created exclusively for the hotel, ceramic murals, caved wood cabinets, carvings, furniture made with exotic woods, rich fabrics, and more. Every aspect was planned in minute detail, including the extraordinary woodwork of the doors and wardrobes in the guest rooms, in walnut and chestnut.” (Posted in the hotel hallway).

This location is incredible, and cuisine outstanding!!

I was not able to have Padrón peppers while in Padrón, and I didn’t have Caldo on the coldest and rainiest of days – a beloved soup I have grown to love on the Camino,  I satisfied my longing for these here!  

I arrived at the airport far too early on this very nice day in Santiago de Compostela, just to make sure all my ducks were in a row as I’m having to check my backpack for the first time ever!!  One does what one (neurotic) has to do!! 

On to Valencia to see Will and Karissa!