Santiago de Compostela
Country: Spain
Region: Europe
Period: 9th-11thCE
Location: 42.877778°N, -8.544444°E
Description
Santiago de Compostela, in northwestern Spain, rose to prominence as the capital of the medieval Kingdom of Galicia. Revered as the burial site of Saint James the Great, it became a major Christian pilgrimage destination. The city's religious, political, and cultural roles made it a spiritual and administrative hub in medieval Iberia.
Modern Remains
Today, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a Romanesque-Gothic-Baroque masterpiece, remains the endpoint of the Camino and a major religious site. The old town preserves medieval streets, monasteries, and civic buildings, offering a vivid connection to its regal and spiritual past.