Discover Santiago de Compostela XV: Saint Martin Pinario Seminary

San Martín Pinario Seminary stands in Praza da Inmaculada, only a few meters away from Azabachería facade of the Cathedral. It was founded as a monastery by some Benedictine monks in the last third of the 16th century and its construction ended two centuries later, in the late 18th century. The monastery is, together with the Cathedral, the most valuable set Galician Baroque, and the second largest in Spain, after El Escorial (Madrid).

Today, it is the seat of Santiago’s Seminar  and also houses a museum of religious art which contains relics, collections of gold and ivory and liturgical vestments.

We have travelled to Seoul thanks to a new postcard!

We have travelled 10,116 kilometres thanks to this lovely postcard sent by Jiyhe, our friend from Seoul, South Korea.

Jiyhe's postcard shows a wonderful natural area located just 25 kilometres from Seoul. Namhansanseong is famous for its fortress city, which dates back to the 17th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built and defended by Buddhist soldier-monks, it embodies a synthesis of the military engineering concepts of the period, drawing on both Chinese and Japanese influences.

Namhansanseong Fortress. CNN.com

Jiyhe has already been to Spain (Barcelona and Seville) and is very familiar with some of our traditions! Thanks for letting us know, Jiyhe. Please, click here to learn about our hometown.

Greetings from Compostela!

We have received a beautiful card from Castlegar (Canada)

Hurray!

We have received a card from one of the most impressive natural areas in the world, Castlegar in British Columbia (Canada)!

Thank you, Reannon, for this beatiful shot of snowy Castlegar. We also love the stamps you've chosen, especially the one with the ghost girl!! I guess it is a popular spooky story in Canada :-)

Luis (advanced 1) has discovered that Castlegar is not only famous for its amazing landscape; it is a mountain city where nature meets art. Would you like to know why? Visit EXPLORING THE WORLD.

Thank you, Luis!

Discover Santiago de Compostela XIV: A Queimada

A Queimada is one of the most popular rituals in Galicia. The term refers to a punch prepared with Galician orujo and sugar, coffee beans, lemon and cinnamon. To celebrate the ritual, people gather around the container in which the punch is prepared and recite the well-known Conxuro da Queimada. Click here to read its translation.

According to tradition, the goal of a Queimada is to keep the bad spirits away from the living! Find out more here or watch the following video:

Stop 14: Moscow (Russia)

Moscow, the capital of Russia, is the destination of postcard 14, which shows the well-known spell O Conxuro da Queimada. Hope Vladko will like it!

Would you like to know what the spell means and when do Galician people recite it? Click HERE.

Next destination: Grahamstown (South Africa)

HAPPY 2016!!

The first postcard this year will travel 9,192 kilometres before arriving in its destination, Grahamstown (South Africa).

Zaira Afonso, an advanced 1 student, has written a postcard that shows the amazing staircase in the Museo do Pobo Galego (Museum of the Galician People). We hope Erica likes it!

Read Zaira's findings on Grahamstown HERE. Thank you, Zaira!

Discover Santiago de Compostela XIII: Staircase at the Museo do Pobo Galego

Postcard 13 shows the impressive staircase at the convent of Santo Domingo de Bonaval, which houses the Museum of the Galician People. Opened in 1976, this museum contains exhibitions on a wide rage of Galician folk culture: fishing, farming, traditional costumes, musical instruments, painting and sculpture. 

The Museo do Pobo Galego is a must visit for anybody interested in Galician folk culture and tradition.