Praza de Fonseca

Santiago de Compostela


South of the cathedral, stop in cafe-lined Praza de Fonseca to look into the Colexio de Fonseca with its beautiful Renaissance courtyard; this was the original seat of Santiago's university (founded in 1495) and now houses the university library. Its Gothic chapel and Salón Artesonado, either side of the entrance, house assorted temporary exhibitions.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Santiago de Compostela attractions

1. Colexio de Fonseca

0.01 MILES

Just south of the cathedral, the Colexio de Fonseca, with a beautiful Renaissance courtyard and two exhibition galleries, was the original seat of…

2. Casa do Cabido

0.03 MILES

Along the lower side of the Praza das Praterías, the baroque Casa do Cabildo is no more than a 3m-deep facade erected in the 1750s at the behest of the…

3. Casa do Deán

0.04 MILES

The Fundación Catedral office here gives out free tickets for unguided visits to the cathedral's Pórtico de la Gloria between 7pm and 8pm Monday to…

4. Fuente de los Caballos

0.04 MILES

The plaza on the cathedral's south side focuses on Fuente de los Caballos fountain (1825), a popular photo op, with four elegant horses surmounted by a…

5. Praza das Praterías

0.05 MILES

'Silversmiths' Square' is centred on an elegant 1825 fountain, the Fuente de los Caballos, a popular photo op, with the cath­edral's Romanesque south…

6. Colexio de San Xerome

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At Praza do Obradoiro's south end stands the Colegio de San Xerome, a former college for the poor that is now the rectorate of Santiago University. This…

7. Museo das Peregrinacións e de Santiago

0.05 MILES

The brightly displayed Museum of Pilgrimages and Santiago gives fascinating insights into the phenomenon of Santiago (man, city and pilgrimage) down the…

8. Museo da Catedral

0.06 MILES

The Cathedral Museum spreads over four floors and incorporates the cathedral's large 16th-century cloister. You'll see a sizeable section of Maestro Mateo…