Santiago de Compostela Day 2

We had an enjoyable late start to our second day in Santiago de Compostela. Our first stop was to to the Cathedral opposite our hotel. The Hotel Hospederia was originally a part of the Benedictine Monastery where Rosendo Salvado trained and became a Monk. This was before he travelled to Australia to start his work with the Aboriginal people in New Norcia. As we walked through the beautiful cathedral, we visited the crypt where St. James was buried as well as  many other sections of the church in remembrance of Saints along with a memorial to Pope John Paul 11 and Pope Benedict XVl. After visiting the Cathedral, we then moved on to the old church of the Monastery. We viewed the collection of holy art along with old printing equipment and stamps. Whilst exploring the interior of the Monastery, we were able to understand just how old the features were and that it dated back to the twelfth century. It was interesting to appreciate that Salvado, one of our schools house patrons, walked the halls of the Monastery that we visited today.  After a short lunch break, we went back to the Cathedral for our roof top tour. It was absolutely amazing to be able to understand the history of the Cathedral and why it was built in the first place. It is understood, that the remains of St. James were buried under the site of the Cathedral after he was beheaded in Jerusalem. The remains were abandoned from the third century until 814 AD where hermit Pelagius rediscovered the tomb after following a star in the night sky. The hermit then told the King at the time, and he ordered a church to be built on top of the remains. King Alfonso was the first pilgrim to walk to the shrine of St. James which is amazing to think that having also walked the Portuguese Way, we too have become part of history that is pilgrimage,  centered around the Way of St. James.