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The 10 Best Museums In Santiago De Compostela

Eve Bidmead

Santiago de Compostela is the capital city of the beautiful Spanish northern region of Galicia. The city, an important pilgrimage destination, is filled with culture and history. Absorb some of the knowledge the history has to offer with this list of its top ten museums and galleries.

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Cathedral square Santiago de Compostela

Museo da Catedral

Cathedral

Door of Catedral de Santiago de Compostela
© Opinador / Wikimedia Commons
Stretching across four floors, this museum has everything you need to learn about the city’s most impressive landmark – its cathedral. The museum features a large area of the architect Mateo’s original carved stone choir, which was sadly destroyed in 1604 but was later rebuilt. There’s also a great collection of religious art and even some medieval tombs.

Opening hours: 7:00am – 8:30pm Mon-Sun

Cidade da Cultura de Galicia

Cidade da Cultura de Galicia

While some locals felt that this huge cultural center was a wasted investment, its impressive architecture and contemporary design are certainly impressive. You’re best off stopping by when there’s an event on, otherwise you may be somewhat disappointed. However, this center of Galician culture and heritage does have some interesting exhibitions and worthwhile artworks to admire.

Opening hours: 11am-8pm Mon-Sun

Address: Monte Gaiás, s/n, 15707 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain

Museo do Pobo Galego

Museum

Old boat
© Luis/WikiCommons
Once a series of convent houses, the Museo do Pobo Gallego (Museum of Galicial People)is located to the northeast of the Old Town. Now a popular museum, these little convent houses are the homes of fascinating exhibits about daily Galician life, art and culture. With a whole range of items on show, from fishing boats to bagpipes, this museum provides a brilliant insight into the complex history and roots of Gallica.

Opening hours: 10.30am-2pm & 4-7.30pm Tue-Sat, 11am-2pm Sun

Museo das Peregrinacións e de Santiago

Museum

Pilgrimage and Santiago Museum, Santiago de Compostela
© Nemigo/WikiCommons
Located in a converted building in the Praza das Praterías, the Museo das Peregrinacións e de Santiago (Museum of Pilgrimage and of Santiago) is based on the epic pilgrimage towards Santiago that every year thousands of people embark on. The museum hosts changing exhibitions as well as a fascinating permanent collection, which features art, artifacts, models and memorabilia.

Opening hours: 10am-2pm & 5pm-8pm Tue-Sat, 11am-2pm Sun

Museo de Arte Sacra

Museum, Art Gallery

This museum displaying original Santiago relics is also a church. While it is a relatively simplistic church, the altar stands out with an explosion of baroque design and color. Come by in the late afternoon to peep into the museum and stick around until the evening to hear the nuns singing.

Opening hours: 10.30am-1.30pm & 4-7pm Mon-Sat, 4-7pm Sun

Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea

Building, Museum

Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea

The Galician Contemporary Art Centre, or Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea, is the city’s best gallery for modern and contemporary art. The museum features excellent exhibitions of art from around the world as well as showing much local talent. The modern building of the museum is home to a whole host of shows and exhibits which include film and video.

Opening hours: 11am-8pm Tue-Sun

Address: Rúa Valle Inclán, 15703 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain

Fundacion Granell

Fundacion Granell

The Fundacion Granell started as a project of the famous surrealist painter Eugenio Granell and has now grown into a varied collection of surrealist and ethnic art. Featuring work from a whole array of artists, not just Granell himself, this gallery is a must-see for anyone interested in surrealism, or just those who are looking to learn more about Galician artistic movements.

Opening hours:11am-2pm & 4pm-9pm Tue-Sat, 11am-2pm Sun

Address: Praza do Toural, 8, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain

Surrealism | © Nadir/WikiCommonsSurrealism | © Nadir/WikiCommons

Pazo de Xelmírez

Building, Cathedral

Pazo de Xelmírez

Although not a musuem proper, this palace is a beautiful old building and a remarkable example of the city’s heritage which you can come and admire while soaking up the city’s culture and history. Located to the north of the cathedral, the Pazo de Xelmírez was built sometime between 1120-1236, although the exact year is unknown. The palace has been impressively well-kept and gives visitors an idea about how the city looked almost a thousand years ago.

Address: Rúa do Cardeal Payá, 8, 15703 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain

Casa de Troya Museum

Museum

Santiago de Compostela is a university city and during term time the number of residents more than doubles due to the vast student population. The Casa da Troya museum recreates buzzing student atmosphere from past generations, resembling the famous boarding house run by ‘Doña Generosa’ at the end of the 19th century. This boarding house was made ever famous by the writer Alejandro Pérez Lugín in his novel La Casa de la Troya.

Opening hours: Tue-Sun, 11am – 2pm & 4pm – 8pm 12am – 10pm Fri, 12am – 2pm Sun

Museo de Terra Santa

Just minutes away from the hugely impressive Cathedral lies yet another beautiful building – the Convent of San Francisco. Once the home of Franciscan friars, this building which dates back to the 13th Century hosts in one of its cloisters the permanent exhibition of the Museo de Terra Santa (Holy Land Museum). The museum provides information about the Near East’s culture and history, linking Santiago and Jerusalem. It’s most stand-out feature is the impressive model of the Holy Sepulchre, crafted in Jerusalem over 60 years ago by Franciscan Fray Bartolome de las Heras-Burgos.

Address: Convento de San Francisco, 15704 Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña, Spain

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