Museo das Peregrinacións, Santiago de Compostela

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At the end of 1951, in a joint initiative between local and central government a museum was created in response to considerable social demand: to offer a view of the birth and evolution of the city of Santiago de Compostela and, in particular, the phenomenon of pilgrimage as generator of the metropolis. An institution was thus created, called "Museo de Santiago y de las Peregrinaciones" (Museum of Santiago and Pilgrimages) in reference to the double subject matter of its exhibits. Its manager is Mr Manuel Chamoso Lamas, the designer and main promoter of the project.

Santiago de Compostela's need for a museum to complement the city's monuments and urban values, cataloging, conserving and publicising the existing rich and diverse movable heritage, dates from the mid-19th century and comes fundamentally under the protection of the Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País (Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country), founded in Santiago in 1784. The Galician Regional Exhibition of 1858, and particularly the 1909 edition, with the initiative and the inestimable support of the aforementioned society, highlight this need.

Thus, in 1951, the new museum is set up. That year the Town Council acquired the building known as "Casa Gótica" and refurbishment began, following investment of funds, which were mostly from the budget of the Directorate General of Fine Arts, and the approval of the Articles of Association by which it would be governed.

The duration of the work proved most discouraging for the Municipal Corporation which, from 1957 onwards, chose to support another,different museum project on the setting up of the"Municipal Museum". This became the recipient of funds from the Hospital de los Reyes Católicos, amongst others, which had recently been designated a boarding house. After years of uncertainty, it was decided to cede the building acquired to the central authorities making the General Directorate of Fine Arts solely responsible for the "Museo das Peregrinacións". This change of ownership was finally completed in 1963.

The inaugural exhibition of 1965

In 1965, the "Inaugural Exhibition" was held to commemorate the Holy Year. It brought together an interesting collection of works on the worship of St James, mostly from churches in the archdiocese of Santiago. When the exhibition ended, the works were returned and the museum closed to the public.

To celebrate the Holy Year in 1976, and following extension work on the original building, a new exhibition was held as a rehearsal for the final version. Once again, the museum was closed when the exhibition ended.

Management of the Museo das Peregrinacións was transferred to the Xunta de Galicia in 1995 and it finally opened its doors for good in 1996.

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The building that currently houses the Museo das Peregrinacións is the sum of different constructions which together form a heterogeneous group that is difficult to interpret.

To the fragmentary initial construction, built towards the mid-fourteenth century, and frequently called the "Gothic House", others were added in the 17th and later centuries. Along with alterations carried out in the 50s and 60s, these were integrated in the extension carried out in the mid-70s, which gave rise to its current form.

A solid granite tower remains of the gothic construction, which at the time was possibly part of an interesting though little-known building. Other similar remains can be found on the same block. It is traditionally said to be the residence of. Peter I the Cruel or. Fernando de Castro, pertiguero Mayor de Santiago in the same period, although this has never been proven.

Its location in the predominant part of the city means it is assumed that it was important at the end of the Middle Ages. Its purpose is unknown: perhaps it was the residence of a member of the local nobility, civilian or clerical, a public building of the city's administration or the prelacy of Santiago.

Despite some alterations, the facade seems to maintain the same appearance it had at some point in the past. It retains some important original elements, such as the modillions that support the eaves, the windows, a curious gargoyle, etc.

Alterations made in the seventeenth century, which redestributed the space, gave the building a balustraded stone staircase, perhaps of abbatial inspiration, reproduced in wood on the upper floors.

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The archaeological discoveries made in Santiago cathedral, particularly after 1946, along with the enormous amounts of objects in the cellars of the cathedral buildings, gave rise to the first hope that a collection could be put together to explain the phenomenon of pilgrimage and the city's origins. Furthermore, the restoration work carried out by the state administration through the Area Commission for Artistic Heritage in other monumental buildings and public areas of the old town unearthed further archaeological remains which contributed to the knowledge of Santiago's past. Some of these archaeological remains would become part of the museum's permanent collection. However, when the inaugural exhibition was being set up in 1965, very few of the exhibits belonged to Museo das Peregrinacións. The majority belonged to the church or were on loan from private collectors for the event, such as Blanco Ciceron, Varela Villamor, or even the Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País of Santiago de Compostela .


San Roque. 15th Century.
Varela-Villamor
Family Collection

In the seventies, the Institute of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art of Madrid donated various works to the museum from the Recovery Service which, along with other private collections and those from institutions of various types, would extend the new collection. A timid attempt at regulating public collections in state museums meant that works of interest for understanding the phenomenon of pilgrimage related to the iconography of Santiago came from other state museums to form part of the permanent collection.

The assuming of responsibility for cultural matters by the Xunta de Galicia in 1982, brought about the regulation of archaeological remains found in the city of Santiago (with the exception of the cathedral, which has a museum of its own), and the rest of the municipal limits and from other sites unquestionably linked to Santiago (Padrón, Iria Flavia...). Following the transfer of the administration of this centre to the Xunta de Galicia in 1995, a works acquisition policy was initiated to add to the museum's permanent collection. Loans and donations from private collectors helped shape the collection which includes important works: sculptures, paintings, silverwork, jet, engravings, etc., as well as archaelogical and ethnographic objects.

The raison d'être of a museum is centred upon its amassing of cultural wealth, which in turn guarantees its conservation and research, thus enriching both society's knowledge and one's knowledge of society. The acquisitions of Museo das Peregrinacións have been systematically studied in order to embrace the necessary scientific discipline that such collections demand. Since 1996, the museum's collections have significantly grown, with new exhibits increasing the museum's previous stock by some 96%.

Year 1996