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Best Spanish courses in Santiago de Compostela
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20 lessons in group per week. Each lesson lasts 45 minutesFrom 220.00 € -
25 lessons in group per week, 5 of which are focused on the oral communication. Each lesson lasts 45 minutesFrom 280.00 € -
25 lessons of 45 minutes in group+5 individual lessons of 60 minutes per weekFrom 430.00 €
Educator
Hi! I'm Monika Przysiecka,Santiago de Compostela stands for one of the most beautiful cities in Spain where to spend for holidays or live for a while. It´s a small city in the north of Spain, where you can learn Spanish and get immersed in either the Spanish or the Galician cultures; you will have the chance to explore charming places and get to know on of the most interesting cultures of the Iberian Peninsula. Also, there you can enjoy the impressive traditional feasts and local cuisine.
If you have any doubts about our courses or destinations open a chat and I will help you with what you need.
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Welcome to Santiago de Compostela, Capital of Galicia, province of La Coruña. This ancient city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. Santiago is famous for being an important centre of Christian pilgrimage, since, according to the tradition, it was the place where the apostle Santiago was buried, and to whom the Cathedral of the city was erected. The truth is that the Camino de Santiago is what highlights the historical evolution of the city from Prehistoric times, the Middle Age, the modern age and the Baroque period. Santiago can be considered as one of the most beautiful places in the world. Its University is also a big part of the city, which has 500 years of history.
Events
in Santiago de Compostela
The day of the summer solstice is the day that the magic of San Juan´s night is celebrated. It is a very old feast that marks the beginning of summer, the longest day of the year with the most sunlight.
On that day, Santiago is full of bonfires (the “cacharelas”), which the locals jump over as a way to expel any curse or evil eye of the “meigas” (evil Galician spiritus). The best-known bonfires are located in the old town, especially those that are in the Plaza Irmán Gómez and in the streets of Algalia de Abaixo y Valle Inclán.
The thing you´re likely to smell during the San Juan´s night, besides the fire, is the smell of sardines, which are in their best season at this time of year. They are roasted in the open air over the “cacharelas” and are served with wine and the typical Galician pies.
Music is also performed around the bonfires and this ritual of purification is completed with another ritual with water and magical plants, which are left overnight and get washed in the morning. Because of this, every year on the 23 of June the Abastos Market will smell of wild flowers (rosemary, mint, chamomile, rose…) as they are sold throughout that day.
The celebrations dedicated to Patron Santiago, of Galicia and Spain, last approximately 15 days. They include festivals that combine religious and folkloric traditions: the 24th and 25th are the big days. On the night of the 24th there´s an impressive firework display, and at the same time a castle of fireworks is lit to imitate the gothic façade of the Cathedral. On the 25th, either the king or a representatve of the Royal Family makes a traditional offering to the Apostle: here is when we can see the botafumeiro, the metal container that swings over the Cathedral and dousing it with incense.
The 25th of July is also the National Day of Galicia, so throughout this fortnight Santiago is filled with music, dance, theatre performances and feasts. The 31st is the last day of all the celebrations, exhibitions and other fireworks shows.
Whenever the 25th of July falls on a Sunday, it is also the Year of Saint Santiago and this will repeat according to a cycle of 6, 5, 6 and 11 years. 1993, 1999, 2004 y 2010 were the most recent years of this celebration, and it will take place again in 2021.
San Roque is one of the most popular saints of the city: at his chapel a solemn mass pray takes place in honour of the saint.
This traditions has its origin in 1517 when many plagues destroyed the city, and for this reason the chapter and the authorities of Santiago decided to erect a chapel dedicated to San Roque at the entrance of the city, so as to seek his assistance in stopping the epidemy.
The Magosto is a local festivity that takes place after sunset, where everyone enjoys roasted chestnuts over the fire. The nuts are accompanied by wine, homemade chorizo, pies and queimada (a traditional alcoholic drink).
It´s a traditional feast celebrated to honour the harvest and to emphasise the importance of chestnuts over the corn and potatoes imported from America many centuries ago.
In many areas of Santiago (San Pedro, Vista Alegre, etc.) many traditional local musical performances are arranged during the month of magostos (bagpipes, tambourines).
A solemn mass that takes place every 30 December at the Basilica of Santiago and that commemorates the relocation of the remains of the Apostle to a place under the Cathedral, according to traditional belief.