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Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Santiago de Compostela is where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims arrive each year after walking the Camino de Santiago, and the city's spiritual weight is palpable. The cathedral, a masterpiece of Romanesque and Baroque architecture, houses the reputed tomb of Saint James and its Portico de la Gloria is one of medieval Europe's greatest sculptural works. The Praza do Obradoiro, the vast square before the cathedral, is an unforgettable space where pilgrims embrace, weep, and celebrate. The old town's narrow granite streets — called ruas — are lined with restaurants, bars, and the arcaded Rua do Franco and Rua do Vilar. Galician cuisine is exceptional, with pulpo a feira (octopus), Padron peppers, and Albarino wine. The university, one of Spain's oldest, gives the city a youthful energy, and the covered Mercado de Abastos is one of Spain's finest food markets.
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Walk the last stretch of the Camino into the city — even a short section along the traditional route gives you a taste of the pilgrimage experience.
May through June and September through October offer the best weather in Galicia's often rainy climate, with the Feast of St. James on July 25 as the year's biggest celebration.