Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Santiago de Compostela

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, a city of Spain; in the province of Corunna, and on the slope of Monte Pedroso. It is the see of an archbishop. The cathedral, begun 1082, is in the form of a Latin cross; near it is a large hostel, founded for pilgrims. The town was built around a chapel, afterward made the cathedral, on the site popularly believed to be the grave of the apostle St. James, whose bones are said to be in the foundation. For several centuries it was the most frequented place of pilgrimage of western Europe, and it has been called the “Mecca of Spain.” The cathedral has a modern front, but part of the interior was built in the 9th century and is noted for its splendid proportions, lofty outline, and beautiful Gothic columns. There is a large hospital founded by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1504, and a university founded in 1504. There are many ruined convents in the city. It has numerous manufactures of hosiery, linen, cotton, silk, leather, paper, and wine, but its trade has much declined during the last four centuries. Pop. about 25,000.