Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Gag And Cough With Blood

Santiago de Compostela, the legendary place near the "end of the earth" ...


I come from this city. Maybe some of you do not know but its importance has deep roots in time and history.
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous region of Galicia and is located in the north-west Spain. The rain caused by the wind coming from the Atlantic Ocean and the presence of the mountains surrounding the city, make it a very special place. The region of Galicia is famous for the fact its green landscapes and spectacular coastline - the type fjords - with beautiful unspoilt beaches. There are also many historical traces Celtic, Norse, Roman and medieval. But even good food.

In Legenda Aurea, that chronicles the lives of the saints, is said to

James the Greater,

one of the 12 apostles of Jesus, he was beheaded during the persecution in Jerusalem in 44 AD and became the first apostle martyr. Two of his disciples, however, managed to steal the body. They took him with a boat on the coast of Galicia and buried him secretly in a forest. Again according to legend, the hermit Pelayo in 813, a rain of stars appeared repeatedly quoting the precise point. Bishop Teodomiro, warned of this phenomenon, arrived on site and discovered three bodies in a headless and with the inscription: "Here lies Jacobus, son of Zebedee and Salome." After this miraculous event the place was called campus stellae (field the star), from which derives the current name of Compostela. miraculous event followed the discovery, like the appearance of James at the helm of the Christian troops Reconquista 840, during the battle of Clavijo and other plants subsequent war. The tomb became a place of great medieval pilgrimages, so that the place took the name of Santiago (from Sancti Jacobi, English Sant-Yago ) and in 1075 began the construction of the huge basilica dedicated to him. The cathedral has been subject to continuous transformations that culminated in the main facade Obradoiro (work of gold), a majestic baroque in

churrigueresque began in 1738 and completed in 1750. On either side rise up the two towers 76 meters high, and within the Capela Maior, is the baroque altar built on the tomb of . Ark silver, in three sections, includes the three bodies (James the Apostle and his disciples Athanasius and Theodore).


Copyright Manfred Zentgraf, Volkach, Germany



Santiago, before the year one thousand, gradually becomes an important center of pilgrimage visited by the first shipping routes. Very soon the news spread in Europe and emperors, popes, kings, knights, nobles, priests, peasants, beggars and sick people, they begin to walk towards the city from different places is a complex network of roads called the " paths of Santiago

" . Even now, as then, the long journey that starts at Roncesvalles (France) should be explored on foot or, alternatively, by bicycle or horse, and always ends with a visit to the tomb of St. James. For those who want, once you get to the Cathedral, you can receive a certificate in Latin certify that the journey made. To obtain this diploma "But we must demonstrate that they have run at least 100 km on foot or by bicycle 200. Each year the city receives millions of visits by people from all over the world who seek to do this walk is for religious reasons, for cultural interest or curiosity. The route is repeatedly pointed with modern signs of the yellow-blue sign that replaces the famous "shell Compostela" . There are cases of pilgrims arrived in wheelchairs, people who are sick, those who arrive with a vehicle built with his own hands. During the journey we meet, walk together, forge bonds, live experience in many ways a "unique". Some are known and love along the way and then married.

arrived in Santiago de Compostela, the journey continues for approx. another 100 km to the Atlantic Ocean to Cape Finisterra (Latin Finisterrae) in Italian which means the end of the earth

since it was alleged that there end of the world before the discovery of America. The pilgrims who choose to come here to burn their shoes to show the end of their "journey".

In 1985 the old town, which is the ttualmente third place of Christian pilgrimage in the world after Jerusalem and Rome

,

was declared a UNESCO World Heritage . In 1987 the Council of Europe has recognized the importance of religious and cultural routes Europe by declaring that cross the road to Santiago " European Cultural Route."

My city is also famous for its ancient 's Universidade de Santiago de Compostela , founded in 1495.

So now that you know a little 'more, those who are still undecided about where to spend your summer vacation? I'll be happy to welcome you (but remember that before ... you have to do a long walk!)

Beatriz Cebra Trenco


Posted by admin at 9:32 AM

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