Monastery of San Martín Pinario

The Monastery of San Martín Pinario is a former Benedictine monastery located north of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

The name “San Martín Pinario” comes from Saint Martin of Tours, to whom the monastery was originally dedicated, and “Pinario” refers to the pine forest that once surrounded the area.

What to See at the Monastery of San Martín Pinario

The monastery underwent significant expansion and renovation during the 16th and 17th centuries, and many of the structures seen today are the result of these interventions.

Among the most notable architectural elements of the monastery are:

• The Main Facade: Built in Baroque style, it features a series of columns, pilasters, and sculptures, giving it an imposing and majestic appearance.
• The Cloister: Also in Baroque style, it has two levels and is decorated with numerous columns and arches.
• The Church: It has an impressive Baroque facade and a Late Gothic interior. Inside, there are high-quality altarpieces, as well as the tomb of Archbishop Alonso de Fonseca y Acevedo.
• The Sacristy: Noted for its rich decoration and elliptical dome.

Walk Around the Monastery

A pleasant and recommended walk, including two great spots to grab a drink, is to go around the monastery.

Here’s the step-by-step:

1. Start at Plaza de la Inmaculada, also known as Azabachería, where you can appreciate one of the monastery’s facades with its four enormous Baroque columns and beautiful gardens.
2. Facing the facade, head right, which means you will need to leave the gardens and walk along the wall, entering the narrow street where the monastery’s access is located. This street is called “Rúa da Moeda Vella.“
3. Walk down this narrow street alongside the monastery until the end, and you’ll reach Plaza de San Martín, or “San Martiño” in Galician.
4. You’ve arrived at the Church of San Martín Pinario with its impressive Baroque facade. You can see the 15 statues and the exterior padding, very characteristic of the Baroque style. At the corner of the square, you have Bar Camalea, a cozy, typical city bar where they have live improvisation shows on Wednesday nights.
5. Continue on “Rúa de Porta da Pena,” a beautiful pedestrian street. You are now circling the back garden of the monastery, which is closed to the public.
6. At the end of the pedestrian area, on your left, is Costa Vella Café, the bar of a hotel with an impressive terrace, surrounded by nature and with a central fountain where smoking is not allowed.
7. Now go down “Rúa Costa Vella.” As you are going down the upper side, it will be easier, but it is one of the steepest streets in Santiago, almost the steepest.
8. When you reach the bottom, you will be in front of the Church of San Francisco. I recommend going up some small stairs to your left instead of taking the main street. This street, called “Rúa do Val de Deus” (Valley of God Street), has a unique peculiarity: it is the street with the most gargoyles in the city, one every few meters, draining the roofs of the Monastery.
9. At the end of the street, you can climb the Travesía das Dúas Portas slope and return to Azabacherías, to Plaza de la Inmaculada, where you started.

The History of the Monastery of San Martín Pinario

The Monastery of San Martín Pinario is a former Benedictine monastery located in Santiago de Compostela, founded in the 10th century, although most of the structures visible today date from the 16th and 17th centuries.

This monastery is one of the largest and most important in Spain and is considered a prominent example of Galician Baroque architectural style.

The name “San Martín Pinario” comes from Saint Martin of Tours, to whom the monastery was originally dedicated, and “Pinario” refers to the pine forest that once surrounded the area.

During the Middle Ages, the monastery grew in importance and wealth due to its proximity to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a major center of Christian pilgrimage.

Over the centuries, the monastery became a center for education and training for monks and clergy, housing one of Spain’s first universities.

The Monastery of San Martín Pinario was secularized in 1835, leading to the disappearance of the monastic community and the sale of its assets.

Over the years, the monastery has been used for various purposes, such as a barracks, hospice, and seminary.

The Monastery Today

Today, the monastery houses the Escola Superior de Conservación e Restauración de Bens Culturais de Galicia and also functions as a hotel and conference center.

Additionally, some areas of the monastery are open to the public, allowing visitors to appreciate its architectural and historical richness.

Location of the Monastery of San Martín Pinario Santiago