Santiago de Compostela, Spain

This past weekend a couple of my friends and I took a weekend trip to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Santiago is in the province of Spain known as Galicia. Galicia is in the northern part of spain near the coast. For any of you who do not know about Santiago de Compostela, the cathedral there is the final destination for all those completing the Camino de Santiago, a really long hike all across the northern parts of Spain and France. Unfortunately, while we were in Santiago, the cathedral was under a lot of construction so none of these pictures of the front of the cathedral make it look very pretty because of the scaffolding.

St. Santiago is actually the patron saint of Spain. (Santiago is somehow translated into St. James) St. James is also known as the "el matamoro" or "the moor killer." So Saint James/ Santiago became the patron saint of Spain mostly due to the moral support that Spain needed during the requisition to kick some ass and stay a Christian country. The city was really beautiful, and very old. I hope that you like the pictures!

Ayuntamiento de Santiago de Compostela (Government Building)

Entrance to the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela (under some serious renovations)

This was the first church I have ever seen that had chandeliers in it

second (outside) level of the cathedral

The cathedral in Santiago is famous for their pilgrims mass where they swing this huge thurible inside the chrurh back and forth to spread incense. This isn't the big daddy but I thought it was still a pretty cool pic.

Everything in Santiago has this shell thing in all it's designs. We found out that it's because the pilgrims, while on their hike, used to use shells to drink water out of rivers and stuff.

Additional church behind the cathedral. At it's other entrance there is a school of social work

Bad ass hotel for pilgrims to stay in

We took a tour that was on top of the cathedral. This is jus ta view of the clock tower that's part of the cathedral and the city of Santiago

St. Santiago (from the rooftop)

strong selfie game on top of the Cathedral de Santiago

Plaza de Santiago (rooftop view)

The entrance to a cloistered monastery across from the Catedral de Santiago

I had never actually seen confessionals like these (expect in Jesus Christ Super Star) until this trip. 

Techo de capilla de virgen del Pilar

Super secret St. Santiago holy door; the door only gets opened when the feast of St. Santiago falls on a Sunday 

Escuela de Trabajo Social

Ridiculous altar inside the church behind la Catedral de Santiago 

Yes, it's really that big

Ceiling view from behind the main altar (en el coro) where the choir sings

Another altar which I don't remember the name of; the pictures never do these justice