Aula· Spain, city by cityLa Rioja
Santo Domingo
«Santo Domingo es una parada clave del Camino de Santiago.»Santo Domingo is a key stop on the Camino de Santiago.
Santo Domingo de la Calzada was born around the work of a hermit who in the 11th century built a bridge, a road, and a hospital for pilgrims heading to Santiago. The name recalls that paved road, and the city has lived off the pilgrimage route uninterruptedly for nine centuries.
Did you know
A rooster and hen live inside.
Inside the cathedral, a live rooster and hen live permanently, in memory of the famous miracle of the hanged and resurrected pilgrim.
How they talk in Santo Domingo
«Calceatense» is the demonym derived from «calzada». «Albergue», «credencial» and «peregrino» are truly everyday words for a city built around the Camino.
golmajería
Confectionery, sweets, or a collection of treats. Used to talk about sweets and pastry preparations from the Riojan tradition.
Everyday life in Santo Domingo
The Gothic «gallinero» inside the cathedral
Inside the church there is a Gothic henhouse with a live hen and rooster, changed every month: they crow during mass, and it is the only place in the world where this happens.
«¿Has oído cantar al gallo?» — Have you heard the rooster crow?
Santo Domingo opened the bridge and the hospital
Domingo opened the path, the bridge and the hospital for pilgrims in the 11th century: the city was born from the path and still lives from it, with the hostel in the old hospital.
The May festivals with the «Prioste»
The patronal festival lasts two weeks and has very ancient rites, such as blessed bread and girls who parade with baskets on their heads.
«Reparten pan bendecido.» — They distribute blessed bread.
What to eat in Santo Domingo
Bacalao a la riojana
Salt cod with dried peppers, tomato and garlic, slow-cooked.
Pimientos del cristal
Thin peppers roasted and peeled by hand, with oil and garlic.
Fardelejos
Puff pastry parcels filled with almond and egg, fried and sugared.
Festivals in Santo Domingo
Fiestas del Santo
from 10 to 15 May
The «doncellas» carry baskets on their heads, bread is blessed, and the rooster and hen remain to crow inside the cathedral.
What to see in Santo Domingo
Catedral de Santo Domingo
Inside the cathedral there is a henhouse with a live rooster and hen.
Antiguo hospital de peregrinos
The 12th-century hospital that has hosted pilgrims for nine centuries, today as a hostel.
Murallas
The stretch of medieval walls that remains, with the towers on the north side.
Where Santo Domingo comes from
A saint who built roads
11th century
Domingo
A hermit builds a bridge, a road and a hospital for pilgrims: the city takes his name.
12th century
The cathedral
Construction of the cathedral begins over the saint's tomb.
13th–18th century
The path
The city lives off the pilgrims: hospitals, inns and brotherhoods.
20th century → today
La Calzada
The name still recalls the road that the saint had paved: «calzada».
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