SANTIAGO de COMPOSTELA
A culture-hosting city Santiago de Compostela is not only the final destination of one of Europe’s most important pilgrim routes, the Way of St. James. Or, as the Unesco proclaimed, “an ideal city which is overflowing with history and timeless,” “one of the World Heritage’s most obvious properties”. Santiago is also a small great universal city, devoted to beauty, creation, innovation, preservation and development. A safe, open and warm place where everyone finds their own place and lives their own unforgettable experiences.
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Come a city that is‌
Young, charming and lively Born for hospitality Contemporary and green A gastronomy paradise The centre of a magical land A perfect stage A musical capital Open to new Creative Tourism experiences ‌ And the best environment for your own events5
Young, charming and lively There is always something happening in Compostela. The university atmosphere, the variety of cultural events, the traditional festivals and its amusing nightlife make Santiago a lively destination all year round.
Born for hospitality For more than a thousand years Santiago has been a land of pilgrimage and universal reception, a meeting place born for the daily exercising of hospitality. The multicultural atmosphere has also been enhanced by thousands of university students from all over the world.
Contemporary and green Santiago de Compostela’s acclaimed heritage has been increased in the last three decades with outstanding contemporary projects. Siza, Isozaki, Hejduk, Eisenman, Grassi, Kleihues, Portela, Gallego Jorreto have transformed the urban space just as the stonemasons, who came from afar, did so in the past. This commitment to contemporary art can also be seen in halls, museums and galleries, the appearance of new venues and renovation of old sites. You can discover Compostela’s contemporary face by touring the parks surrounding the old town featuring surprising perspectives of the monumental quarter.
A gastronomy paradise Eating is a way of life. And nobody ever forgets Santiago’s fine cuisine. In its market, called “Praza de Abastos,” and in its more than a thousand restaurants, the city serves delicious, fresh and healthy Atlantic produce. 7
The centre of a magical land This is your starting point for discovering Galicia. “Finis terrae,� centuries-old forests, Atlantic beaches only 30 minutes from the city, make up the landscape featuring Roman and medieval towns, remote monasteries, Celtic settlements, seafaring villages... all within reach.
A musical capital Music has been etched in the city’s spirit from the beginning. The Cathedral’s “Pórtico de la Gloria,” one of the world’s Romanesque masterpieces, features a chorus of musicians playing medieval instruments. Or the medieval Galician-Portuguese “cantigas” that were the most outstanding in Europe at that time, along with those of Provence. Millions of visitors end up each year immersed in the permanent celebration of the city’s daily life. Festivals, music, theatre, dance, folklore, performances, puppets, cabaret, independent cinema, fairs, markets, exhibitions and also popular fiestas and traditions are highlights of the cultural calendar. Today, Compostela is a city with a first-rate musical programme throughout the year, both popular and classical music, along with the Real Filharmonía de Galicia orchestra. Furthermore, in recent years Santiago has hosted international cultural events, such as MACC, MICAtlántica or WOMEX 14 (and soon WOMEX 16). 9
Main cultural events and feasts throughout the year January - March Novos Intérpretes Series February International University Theatre Festival February – September “1906 Jazz in Galicia” series March - May “Ángel Brage” Piano series Holy Week Contemplative Music Festival April - May University Theatre Fair April or May “Ascensión” Festival May Open-air Book Fair May Open-air Old and Second-Hand Book Fair June - July Classical Music Festival Via Stellae June 23 Saint John’s Eve July 2nd fortnight Apostle Festival July “Atardecer no Gaiás” open-air concert series July “Circo á gorra” Circus Street Festival August “Music in Compostela” courses September
Lied Festival
September - October Outono Códax Festival October “Galicreques” Puppet Festival October International Short-Film Festival CurtoCircuíto October Euro-Arab Cinema Festival “Amal” October - June June. Auditorio de Galicia’s regular concert season November Cinema Festival “Cineuropa” December Amateur Theatre Festival December Lyrical Festival “Todo Lírica”
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A perfect stage The city has a wide range of cultural venues and facilities, such as the “Cidade da Cultura” (a spectacular architectural project by Peter Eisenman), the “Auditorio de Galicia” or several beautiful theatres in the city centre. Santiago is also known for its abundance of small shows held in “informal” venues such as clubs and cafes. And there are 13 museums and large exhibition halls, which periodically organise conferences, recitals and presentations in addition to their exhibitions, like the Galician City of Culture, the Galician Contemporary Art Centre (CGAC), the Museo do Pobo Galego (ethnographic museum), the Eugenio Granell Museum-Foundation, the Abanca Foundation and more.
Open to new Creative Tourism experiences Contemporary society is moving towards. In addition to conventional tourist visits, the city has developed experience-based experiences such as: Classical and sacred music concerts and choral singing organised by specialised travel agencies: Sea Pictures International Choral Singing Festival (2007), Road to Paradise religious music festival (2008), etc. Guided tours of local artists’ studios and artisans’ jet, silver, ceramic and fashion workshops. Compostela Gastronómica Festival. Gastronomy forum with training workshops, show cooking and keynote conferences on the rich Galician cuisine and products, along with numerous “gastro-creative” activities throughout the city. Gastronomy “shop and cook” workshops for adults or children, creative tastings and blind dinners. The University of Santiago also offers a Cultural Industry Master’s Degree. 13
‌ And the best environment for your own events Santiago de Compostela stands out due to its evocative monumental heritage: the Cathedral, well-preserved monuments from Romanesque to Neoclassical, Baroque squares and ancient cobblestone streets. The contemporary times have enriched this accumulative image defining the city even further. Their beauty and singularity make them the ideal setting for holding art festivals, classical and contemporary music concerts, exhibitions, fairs, markets, conferences and international networking gatherings of experts committed to the construction of a new cultural model for new social settings. Turismo de Santiago provides advice and support for creative events and meetings, offering venues, contacts with local institutions and artists and cultural entities, tourist information and promotion of your events.
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How to arrive By airplane Airport Santiago de Compostela Location: Lavacolla +34 981 547 501 www.aena.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Santiago/es/ Distance: 10 km (15 min. by car) Main companies: Aer Lingus. Air Europa. Air Nostrum. Easyjet. Iberia. Ryanair. Swiss. Turkish Airlines. Vueling. Main destinations: Alicante. Barcelona. Basel/Mulhouse. Bilbao. Istambul. Frankfurt/Hahn. Fuerteventura. Geneva. Gran Canaria. Lanzarote. London. Madrid. Malaga. Palma de Mallorca. Paris / Charles de Gaulle. Roma / Fiumicino. Sevilla. Tenerife Norte. Tenerife Sur. Valencia. By train Santiago de Compostela Train Station Hórreo, 75A. +34 981 591 859 www.renfe.es Long-distance: Two direct daily trains link up with Madrid (three on Sundays), one with San Sebastian and Hendaye and one with Barcelona. Changing train once, there is a daily service to Bilbao, Portugal and Paris, as well as nearly all of Spain’s main cities. Regional: There are trains approximately every hour to the main destinations in Galicia (A Coruña, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Pontevedra and Vigo) with connections to Portugal. There is also a direct train to Ourense several times a day. Trans-Cantabrian: Panoramic train that goes through north and northwest Spain, the “Green Spain,” from San Sebastian, in the Basque Country, to Santiago de Compostela. More information: www.santiagoturismo.com 17
Contacts Turismo de Santiago
Central Tourist Office Rúa do Vilar, 63. + 34 981 555 129 www.santiagoturismo.com
Coming to Santiago at Womex 2016 www.santiagoturismo.com/Womex16
Nordesía Producións
Local partner at WOMEX 16 www.nordesia.com
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