SAN PEDRO DISTRICT

You can enter through the Porta do Camino, the gate that marked the arrival in Santiago of pilgrims following the Camino Francés, but also the point of passage for the peasants of the region, who came to sell their products at the big market (de abastos, opposite). Continue along Calle San Pedro, the last part of the Camino Francés and the main artery of the neighbourhood, which crosses it from west to east, following a winding route. This is the place where you can find the charm and energy of this popular neighbourhood. In the middle of this street is the Praza do Prado. This is where the monastery of San Pedro de Forá was built in the Middle Ages and gave its name to the district. The current monastery was only partially rebuilt after falling into ruins in the 19th century. If you turn right into the rua de Belvís you will see the Pazo Grande de Belvís, an austere building bearing the coat of arms of one of the noble families that lived there (the Durán Figueroa). A little further on, you can take a look at the wooden roof of the church of Santa Maria de Belvís. This is the only trace of the original building, which was built in the fourteenth century but renovated in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Its chapel contains an image of the Virgen del Portal, considered miraculous and the object of great devotion. Afterwards, following the rua de Andújar, you will notice the Seminario Menor, a building with an old appearance, but actually built in the 20th century and which is a modern interpretation of the Galician building tradition (materials and forms). If you turn right and take the street Bispo Teodomiro, you will arrive in front of the Socio-cultural Centre of Trisca. A small jewel of contemporary architecture, designed by the American architect John Hedjuk and completed in 2001, it is reminiscent of the bow of a boat. Don't forget to climb onto its terrace, which gives access to a very nice view of the surroundings. To complete your stroll, follow the streets dos largatos (a route that follows the old paths leading to the Río Sar) and the streets da Angustia, Rosario and Bonaval. In the Bonaval park you will find the museums of contemporary art and of the Galician people, as well as the Santo Domingo de Bonaval church where several emblematic Galician figures are buried. A stroll through the garden is also a must, as it offers superb views of the roofs of Santiago de Compostela. The San Pedro neighbourhood also has its own festivals, such as the spring festival (^1st Saturday in April or May), the festival of San Juan on 23 June (bonfires and sardine tasting) and the neighbourhood festival held in the last week of June.