Europe and the Mediterranean

 

Santiago de Compostela

RAMON LLULL IN SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Ramon Llull went on pilgrimage to Santiago in 1265. The route he took is unknown, but probably, due to his association with Montpellier, he travelled to Compostela from Rocamadour following the French route of the Way of St. James. In any case the pilgrimage ended in Barcelona where he probably returned through the Catalan route of the Way.

 

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, THEN AND NOW

Santiago de Compostela, in La Coruña province, is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia. It is a major tourist and university center. The legend of the discovery of the tomb of the apostle St. James in the 9th century made it the most important point of pilgrimage in Christianity after Rome and Jerusalem through the Way of St. James. This historic way has multiple routes that connect Santiago with different points of the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe through France.

The construction of the Romanesque cathedral of Santiago de Compostela started in 1075 by Bishop Diego Pelaez and continued by Bishop Diego Gelmirez the following century; the works concluded in 1128. It is large, cruciform with three naves, and is one of the most important Romanesque buildings in Europe. The exterior was completely transformed during 17th and 18th centuries, in baroque style. Next to the cathedral there is another Romanesque building (12th -13th centuries); the Pazo de Xelmirez or “Palace of Gelmirez”. The city’s old town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Nowadays, the Way of St. James is probably the most important destination for pilgrims and hikers in Europe.

 

Ramon Llull quotations

 
«With rage, the will looses the freedom and the deliberation looses the understanding»
 

Messages about Ramon Llull

 
Ramon Llull spoke Catalan, Occitan, French, Arabic and Latin and promoted the learning of languages.
 

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