World City Guide

Further Distractions

Museo das Pereginacións (Pilgrimage Museum)
Small but fascinating, this museum is dedicated to the thousand years of history that precedes the famous pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

Rúa de San Miguel 4
Tel: (981) 581 558.
Website: www.mdperegrinacious.com
Admission charge.

Centro Galego de Arte Contemparánea (Galician Centre of Contemporary Art)
This dramatic new modern art gallery, just outside the Porta do Camino, was designed by the Portuguese architect, Álvaro Siza. It stands next to the Museo do Pobo Galego but shows a very different aspect of Galician life, with its permanent collection of modern Galician art. There is also space for a wide variety of temporary exhibitions, from installations by Rebecca Horn to sculptures by Francisco Leiro.

Rúa Valle Inclán
Tel: (981) 546 619.
Website: www.cgac.org
Free admission.

Museo do Pobo Galego (Museum of the Galician People)
Housed in a 14th-century convent, this museum is devoted to the history of the Galician people, from their Celtic origins onwards. There are extensive archaeological and ethnographic displays, exhibits of traditional architecture, as well as models and displays showing local trades and crafts. The convent’s beautiful Gothic chapel also contains the Pantheon of Famous Galicians.

Convento de San Domingos de Bonaval, Rúa de Valle Inclán 3
Tel: (981) 583 620.
Website: www.museodopobo.es
Free admission.

Museo Eugenio Granell
An exciting gallery dedicated to modern art, the Museo Eugenio Granell is housed in an 18th-century manor house. Works in the permanent collection include such illustrious names as Picasso, Miró, Bretón and Duchamp.

Pazo de Bendaña, Praza do Toural.
Tel: (981) 576 394.
Website: www.fundacion-granell.org
Admission charge; free on Sun.

Parque Alameda
This area of parkland between the Old Quarter and the University is laid out with Galician oak trees and gardens. Perfect for strolling through, it also gives one of the best views of the city from the Ferradura promenade. The Carballeira (oak wood) overlies a Celtic hill fort and contains a chapel to Santiago de Compostela’s other patron saint, Santa Susanna.

Old Quarter
Free admission.