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The old town of Santiago de Compostela
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This famous
pilgrimage site in the Northwest of Spain became a symbol in the Spanish
Christians' struggle against Islam. Destroyed by the Muslims at the
end of the 10th century, it was completely rebuilt in the following
century. The Old Town of Santiago forms one of the world's most beautiful
urban areas with Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings.
Inscribed: 1985
Justification:
- Around its Cathedral which is a world renowned masterpiece of Romanesque
art, Santiago de Compostela conserves a valuable historic centre worthy
of one of Christianity's greatest holy cities.
- During both the Romanesque and Baroque periods the Sanctuary of Santiago
exerted a decisive influence on the development of architecture and
art not only in Galicia but also in the north of the Iberian Peninsula.
- Santiago de Compostela is "associated with one of the major themes
of medieval history. "