Hospital de San Miguel

Rúa das Casas Reais (current No 23 and 25)

Here was the Hospital of St. Miguel, founded in the XIV century. It gave shelter to the pilgrims and the poor who received free care for an indefinite period. Compostela has had several hospitals for pilgrims throughout the centuries.

The small solidarity action

Santiago had several small hospitals where poor and sick pilgrims were cared for. We can confirm the existence of at least a dozen of those hospitals. They meant the solidarity of the city with the visitors who gave them prestige, life, and the reason for their existence. Pilgrims did not use to receive an in-depth care but at least they had a shelter from the frequent rain.
The hospitals were promoted and funded by religious and civil authorities. Hospitality with pilgrims, who were seen as the representation of Jesus on Earth –‘I am the way’, He said- was much appreciated and wealthy pilgrims resorted to it to please Jesus.

The first Hospital

San Miguel was one of these hospitals. It was founded with the estate of a canon at the beginning of the XV century. It was linked to the church of Santa María do Camiño. It was the first inn where pilgrims without resources and those who could pay their meals could stay when arriving in Compostela. It had a library with books in several languages for pilgrims.