Plaza de Cervantes

plaza de cervantes

Located in the old part of Santiago de Compostela, Plaza de Cervantes, or Cervantes as the locals call it, is a square just a few meters from the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. Here, you can spot a fountain (the last fountain for pilgrims before reaching their destination) presided over by the monument or bust of Miguel de Cervantes.

Last Meeting Point on the Camino: Plaza Cervantes

plaza de cervantes
As a curiosity, this square used to be the site where the Inquisition burned witches.

The emblematic Plaza de Cervantes is a meeting place for numerous pilgrims on their journey along the Camino de Santiago, as it is located just a few meters from their pilgrimage destination.

It is a lively square, frequented by both pilgrims and locals.

Activities in Plaza Cervantes

  • Its numerous bars, such as A Gramola, O Filandón, and more.
  • Its restaurants, like A Vinoteca Cervantes, Botafumeiro, Casa Manolo, Damajuana, and others.
  • Its book market on Saturdays, where you can find a wide variety of books in various languages.
  • Its antiques market on Thursdays from 9:00 to 14:00.
  • Music performances.

The Plaza de Cervantes Prank

It’s worth noting to be cautious of the most iconic prank of Plaza Cervantes: being shown the “feet of Cervantes.”

This prank involves approaching the Cervantes fountain and leaning over it to try to see the famous author’s “feet,” but all you will actually see are a bunch of coins thrown into the fountain and your face getting splashed when the person who invited you to see those “feet” splashes your face.

Location of Plaza Cervantes

In summary, if you plan to visit Santiago, Plaza Cervantes is a must-see stop full of history and atmosphere, but be careful not to stumble upon the “feet of Cervantes.”

If you liked this post, don’t hesitate to check out our post on Where to Have a Drink in Santiago de Compostela.

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