The Hostel Seminario Menor is one of the most traditional building welcoming pilgrims in the city. Over three decades welcoming everyone who arrives in Santiago de Compostela. It is a very popular hostel among those who venture on the pilgrim’s routes of Western Europe: the Hostel Seminario Menor was chosen among the ten best ones on the French Way by users of the pilgrim website Gronze.com: let’s discover why.
The Seminario Menor Pilgrim’s Hostel opens its doors in a huge building standing on one of the areas with the best views of the old town of Compostela: the area of Belvís, located in the historic neighborhood of San Pedro. Etymology suggests that Belvís is an acronym for Bela Vista (nice view) and with a reason: the hostel is located in a privileged viewpoint and opens onto a bucolic and relaxing view of the monumental area of the town and the proud towers of the Cathedral of Santiago.
Pilgrims greatly appreciate the clear and unique profile seen from the hill. The environment was also recovered in recent decades, with the opening and expansion of the Belvís park: a green area that runs through old ecclesiastical estates and shows visitors the gentle, sloping terrain of Santiago.
The Hostel Seminario Menor receives its name from the educational institution with which it shares space. The Seminary was the last building that the Archbishop of Compostela designated for the education of the clergy. The building inaugurated by Cardinal Quiroga Palacios in 1955; since then it has served as a center for ecclesiastical and secular education; in recent years it also incorporated the function of a pilgrim’s hostel.
The Hostel Seminario Menor attracts so many pilgrims also due to its location: not only is it located a few minutes from the Cathedral but, on the way to the Cathedral, you find the Mercado de Abastos (Santiago’s famous marketplace). Pilgrims recover their feelings by touring the different places in which people find a display of the best foods both from sea and land: scenes of traditional methods of production, unusual nowadays, but that attract and convince more and more people.
The Hostel Seminario Menor keeps the essence of the pilgrims’ experience: spaces for rest, private comforts, spaces for reflection, affordable price and an unbeatable location.
It is necessary to be a pilgrim to do a booking?
It is not compulsory to be a pilgrim but the Hostel is designed to Pilgrims.
Which are the timetables of the hostel?
Check in: From 08 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Acces to the rooms: From 14h untill 00.30h.
Check out: It is compulsory to leave the hostel before 9.30 a.m. Between 9.30 a.m. and 14 p.m. we do the cleanning of the rooms.
Closing time: 00:30h. It will not be possible to enter in the building after 00:30. You can leave the hostel at any time.
It is recomendable to take my sleeping bag?
Yes it is. The Price includes a kit of the under sheet and the pillowcase. We also have blankets.
Are rooms mixed?
Yes they are
Are bathrooms separated by gender?
Yes they are
Which types of accomodations are available?
Single bed in a shared mixed room. Single, twin and triple rooms. Bathrooms are shared and outside the rooms.
Is there a food service?
We have a small market where you can buy some food (sandwiches, canned food, pasta, sweets, beverages, etc.). A fully equipped kitchen and Vending Machines iare also at disposal of our guests.
Can I have breakfast on the hostel?
Yes, breakfast is served from 07.00 a.m.
Can I smoke on the hostel?
No, it is not allowed to smoke on the whole area.
Are animals admitted?
No, they are not admitted in the whole area.
I have a place for leaving my bike?
Yes, there is. Under your responsability.
Is there a locked area?
Yes, you can store your backpack during 24 hours after check-out: cost 2€.
Can I send my backpack to the hotel with a transportation service?
Yes, you can send it to our Hostel. Please make sure to have a reservation.
It is necessary to book in advance?
It is not necessary but recommended to get your place guaranteed. You can do your booking through our site and get the best price.
Can I cancel or modify my booking?
Yes you can. If you cancel or modify your booking with morethan 24 hours before your arrival time it is free. In case you do the cancellation on modifcation the samen day of your arrival the cancellation costs are the full price of the first night of accommodation.
What is included on my accommodation price?
Accommodation. Kit of under sheet and pillowcase, locker with plug and lightning point.
You still have more questions? Contac us!
Behind we left the hundreds of kilometers, the calloused feet, the pain on the back and the squeaking knees. Infront of us the catedral and inside the backpack the Compostela. Now you can think on enjoying the city and not on the next stage. Here are some proposals to have the best time in Santiago.
1. Green areas and geographical splendour:
Santiago de Compostela experimented an expansión due to the developement on the 60`s and the jubilee years from the 90’s. The city grew up towards the coast but with respect to the green áreas of the ancient private plantations or from the ecleciastical use.With the historical park of the Alameda, the most famous park is San Domingo de Bonaval, next to the neighborhood of San Pedro. At the main entrance of the french way on the city. It is a park designed by Alvaro Siza, portuguese architect, located next to the contemporary art museum. It employs the different highs of the land to show intimate corners and amazing views. We may also recommend Galeras, Vista Alegre and the Sar river Banks.
Such a historical city as Santiago is, it hides a lot of mistery and stories between its streets. These stories are the best way to understand why and how it works nowadays. Just arrived to Compostela may be difficult to understand why on a city with a catedral does not exist a castle or how the streets were before their stone layer. It is also very interesrting to know the different use of each building or who and why used to olive on each neighborhood. Luckily it is very easy to find different guided tours and visits to get involved on the history. Le tus really advise yo to book some of the different tours of the city and the one at the catedral roofs
3. It is not everything about culture, let’s eat (and drink)!!
Of course, food in Galicia its fantanstic!! But we are going to try to be more concrete. What do we want to eat? How many it is going to cost? Which flavours are we going to remember? One almost compulsory visit, is the market of the city. There we may see how it works a traditional market and see the quality of the different products.
At the city we can taste the so known omelette of El moha o La Tita where we can get a plentful tapa, a cheese and cold meat board at Casa Pepe in Santo Agostiño or enjoyo f a tipical bar of Santiago like O cabalo Blanco. To have lunch we can go the San Pedro neighborhood at the entrance of the French Way and its traditional restaurants where tasting home-made cooking (Casal do Cabildo, O 16). A visit to the wine bar at Os Concheiros may be also be done.
4. At night
Maybe this stage of 40 kilometers has not destroyed your desire of party. If your feet feel strong enough you can go to the old quarter of the city when the night falls. It is very common to find live music or theatre ant the Santiago pubs. Two of the more historical pubs are Modus Vivendi, which is the first pub openned at the city and A Casa das Crechas, with a huge concerts schedule. Really near we find La Borriquita de Belen with their permanent bet for the live music, blues, flamenco and folk. The Embora pub besides having one of the most beautiful terraces of Santiago offers a room of microtheatre.
5. From Santiago to the most occidental point
It is going deeper on the myth of the esoteric history of Galicia but after reaching Santiago it is worthit continue untill Finisterre. If you want to get more involved on the Costa da Morte región you can book the one day trip where our guides Will make you parto d some of the jewels of the tour. You Will visit Pontemaceira, Muros, Ezaro waterfall (the only waterfall of eaurope that does direct to the sea), the cape and village of Finisterre and last stop would be Muxia and its sanctuary.
6. South part of Galicia:
It is amazing the diversity of a so small region as Galicia. The difference between north and south are remarkable. If you want to get involved on the Rías Baixas, we offer you the one day trip marked for the sailor tradition of Galicia. Pontevedra, Combarro, O Grove would amaze us with their seaports, including a boat trip with tasting of mussels. The trip ends with the visit to Cambados.
Adress
Albergue Seminario Menor
Avda. Quiroga Palacios s/n
15703 Santiago De Compostela
A Coruña, España
Coordinates
42.877206, -8.537332
How to arrive
