58th F.I.C.C. Youth Rally, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The 58th FICC Youth Rally will be held during Easter, 8th to 13th of April 2009 at Santiago de Compostela. The Rally will be hosted by the FECC (Federación Española de Clubes Campistas) at the campsite Monte do Gozo, situated a 2,5 km from the centre of Santiago de Compostela. The site is well connected by bus to the city and to the local international Airport.
CONTACT AND INFORMATION: E-mail: ficcyouthrally2009@gmail.com Website: www.ficcyouthrally2009.blogspot.com Fax: 0034 986 473 273; Personal attention: +34 666 391 738 |
INTRODUCTION (see note at the end)*
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (The culmination of the ST. James’ Way Pilgrimage)
Santiago de Compostela is the regional capital of Galicia, located, more or less, at a similar distance from other Galician provinces: Lugo, Orense and Pontevedra, Santiago de Compostela is geographically within the province of La Corunna (La Coruña). The cathedral borders the main Praza (Square) of the old and well-preserved city. Across the square is the Pazo de Raxoi (Raxoi's Palace), the town hall and seat of the Galician Xunta, and on the right from the cathedral steps is the Hostal dos Reis Católicos, founded in 1492 by the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon, as a pilgrim's hospice (now a parador). The Obradoiro façade of the cathedral, the best known, is depicted on the Spanish euro coins of 1 cent, 2 cents, and 5 cents..
Santiago also has a fine University established in the early 16th century. The main campus can be seen best from an alcove in the large municipal park in the centre of the city. The University ensures youthful night life. Within the old town there are many narrow winding streets full of historic buildings. The new town all around it has less character though some of the older parts of the new town have some big apartments in them.
Santiago de Compostela’s cultural aspects give way to a bustling nightlife. Divided between the new town (la zona nueva) and the old town (la zona vieja), one can often find a mix of middle-aged residents and younger students running throughout the city until the early hours of the morning. Radiating from the center of the city, the historic cathedral is surrounded by paved granite streets, tucked away in the old town, and separated from the newer part of the city by the largest of many parks throughout the city, Parque Alameda. Whether in the old town or the new town, party-goers will often find themselves following their tapas by dancing the night away.
Praza del Obradoiro (Santiago’s traditional meeting place)
Santiago gives its name to one of the four military orders of Spain: Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara and Montesa.
Etymology of the name Compostela
The popular etymology of the name "Compostela" holds that it comes from Latin campus stellae, i.e. "field of stars", making Santiago de Compostela "St. James of the Field of Stars". This name would come from the belief that the bones of St. James were taken from the Middle East, to Spain. These bones were then buried where a shepherd had spotted a star and a church was eventually built over the bones and later replaced with the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela.
Another etymology is Compositum, i.e. "The well founded", or Composita Tella, meaning "burial ground".
Yet another etymology derives it from "San Jacome Apostol".
History of the Way of St. James Pilgrimage
The legend that St James found his way to the Iberian Peninsula, and had preached there is one of a number of early traditions concerning the missionary activities and final resting places of the apostles of Jesus. Although the 1884 Bull of Pope Leo XIII Omnipotens Deus accepted the authenticity of the relics at Compostela, the Vatican remains uncommitted as to whether the relics are those of Saint James the Great, while continuing to promote the more general benefits of pilgrimage to the site.
According to a tradition that cannot be traced before the 12th century, the relics were said to have been discovered in 835 by Theodomir, bishop of Iria Flavia in the far northwest of the principality of Asturias. Theodomir was guided to the spot by a star, the legend affirmed, drawing upon a familiar myth-element, hence "Compostela" was given an etymology as a corruption of Campus Stellae, "Plain of Stars."
The establishment of the shrine
As suggested already, it is probably impossible to know whose bones were actually found, and precisely when and how. Perhaps it does not matter. What the history of the pilgrimage requires, but what the meagre sources fail to reveal, is how the local Galician cult associated with the saint was transformed into an international cult drawing pilgrims from distant parts of the world. The 1000 year old pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is known in English as the Way of St. James and in Galician as the Camiño de Santiago. Over 100,000 pilgrims travel to the city each year from points all over Europe, and other parts of the world. The pilgrimage has been the subject of many books and television programmes notably Brian Sewell's The Naked Pilgrim produced for UK's Five.
LANGUAGE
Spanish or Castilian (castellano) is a Romance language that originated in northern Spain, and gradually spread in the Kingdom of Castile and evolved into the principal language of government and trade. It was taken to Africa, the Americas, and Asia Pacific with the expansion of the Spanish Empire between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Today, between 322 and 400 million people speak Spanish as a native language, making it the world's second most-spoken language by native speakers (after Mandarin Chinese).
It is estimated that the combined total of native and non-native Spanish speakers is approximately 500 million, likely making it the third most spoken language by total number of speakers (after English and Chinese).
Today, Spanish is an official language of Spain (there are other languages in Spain: Catalonian, Basque and Galician), most Latin American countries, and Equatorial Guinea; 21 nations speak it as their primary language. Spanish also is one of six official languages of the United Nations. Mexico has the world's largest Spanish-speaking population, and Spanish is the second most-widely spoken language in the United States and the most popular studied foreign language in U.S. schools and universities. Global internet usage statistics for 2007 show Spanish as the third most commonly used language on the internet, after English and Chinese. Spanish has been described as the third most influential language in the world (after English and French)
DEMOGRAPHY
Santiago de Compostela is World Heritage City. The estimated population is more than 105.000 thousand and with 35,000 inhabitants more on top, made up of students from various faculties during the school year at Santiago’s University.
RELIGION
Spanish culture is influenced by the Catholic religion, although, given the broad freedom to practice religion, any other religion can be freely adopted.
ELECTRICITY
Voltage: 220/240 volts at a frequency of 50 hertz. All outlets follow the European standard.
INFORMATION
SPONSORS
The 58th F.I.C.C. Youth Rally is sponsored by the F.E.C.C. (Federación Española de Clubes Campistas).
RALLY FEE
The price of the Rally is 50 euros. The booking form will be sent to each club / federation affiliate member of the F.I.C.C. Very important: Participants can only book through a federation or a club affiliated with the F.I.C.C. Please note that booking forms sent after the 31st of January 2009 have an additional charge of 5 Euros for each participant.
If there are any questions contact the ORGANIZING COMMITTEE of the Rally: ficcyouthrally2009@gmail.com
Please, note that all e-mails must be sent to us; even those related to the camping site, we have a special price for participants to come in before or leave after the Rally.
CAMPSITE
The camping site “Monte do Gozo” is the place where Pope John Paul II on the 19th August 1989 celebrated the Vigil for World Youth Day among thousands of young people; it is located very conveniently, at 2,5 km from the very centre, to get quickly to Santiago de Compostela, and 16 km from Labacolla International Airport which is connected with public bus service to and from the airport.
All participants should note that NO GLASS BOTTLES ARE ALLOWED within the camping site premises for security reasons. Please do not bring glass bottles: Only plastic bottles or cans. Thank you.
The camping site has an extension of 42.000 m² with trees and full services like showers with hot water, and following facilities:
- Park
- Social room
- Sports ground
- Cooking facilities
- Wooden bungalows
- Bicycle rental
- Supermarket
- Restaurant
There will a payable public telephone.
FOOD AND DRINK
There will be hot food for sale on the camping site. There will be a bar serving soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. Payment will be on a ticket basis. Alcohol tickets will only be available to those over 18 years old (to comply with Spanish law).
A supermarket will be available for shopping food and drinks.
A traditional Easter dinner will be provided on Saturday 11th of April in the evening.
CAMPING SITE LOCATION AND CONTACTS
Campsite Address: RUA DO GOZO 18,
15820 - SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Phone: +34 981.55.89.42
Fax: +34 981.56.28.92
G.P.S.: North 42º 53' 14" / West-9º 30' 28"
The campsite is located at 6 km from the airport, 2,5 km from the town centre.
Please, remember that to get to the campsite you need to get off at the “SAN MARCOS” stop. Distance from the airport: 6 km; to the city 2,5 km.
PLEASE, REMEMBER THAT ANYTHING RELATED WITH THE CAMPSITE, DURING THE RALLY’S PERIOD, YOU NEED TO DIRECT IT TO US; WE HAVE BETTER PRICES FOR YOU.
CONTACT AND INFORMATION: E-mail: ficcyouthrally2009@gmail.com Website: www.ficcyouthrally2009.blogspot.com Fax: 0034 986 473 273; Personal attention: +34 666 391 738 |
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES BY BUS TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT
2 Buses have an estimated schedule. (Information of the service related to stops)
3 Direct line: there are no intermediate stops. It goes along A-54.
4 Transport service only in working days.
1 Estimated schedules corresponding to intermediate stops and estimated schedules of arrivals.
3 Direct line: there are no intermediate stops. It goes along A-54.
4Transport service only in working days.
5Transport service only during the school year (October - June).
E-mail: info@cvacaciones-montedogozo.com
SPORTS
There will be fun sports, we will further, and meantime you can watch our website for update of the Youth Rally2009: www.ficcyouthrally2009.blogspot.com
DISCO
There will be a disco every evening with a wide range of music played by DJs and live. We will more details in our website.
FIRST AID
The campsite will have qualified first aid attention 24 hours a day.
EXCURSIONS
(The price for this extra excursion will be sent in due course)
La Coruña (Corunna)
We will arrange a special tour for the A Coruña (Corunna, beautiful city by the coast, north of the Galicia region).
Other attractions of Santiago de Compostela:
Santiago de Compostela is one of the most important Romanesque’s cities in Europe and declared World Heritage City by UNESCO since 1985. A visit to the Santiago de Compostela’s Cathedral to see the “Botafumeiro” is a must, this is one of the largest censers in the world, weighing 80 kg and measuring 1.60 m in height. It is normally on exhibition in the library of the cathedral, but during certain important religious occasions it is brought to the floor of the cathedral and attached to ropes hung from the pulley mechanism. The ropes typically last about 20 years before they have to be replaced. However, recently a thicker rope than usual was used, and the extra rubbing produced premature wear of the rope. Therefore, this thicker rope had to be replaced sooner than had been expected, in 2004. Before 2004, the ropes were woven from hemp or a type of grass called esparto, and made in Vigo, Spain. Since 2004, a rope made of synthetic material has been used.
The Botafumeiro is carried and swung by eight men in red robes, called tiraboleiros. The term "tiraboleiro" is a Galician distortion of the Latin word "turifer", which means "incense carrier", and from which is derived the English equivalent, "thurifer". This comes from the Latin words "thus", meaning incense, and "fero", meaning "carry". There is a comparable term in Castillian Spanish, a "turiferario".
At the top of the swing, the Botafumeiro reaches heights of 21 meters. It swings in a 65 meter arc between the Azabachería and Praterias doorways at the ends of the transept. The maximum angle achieved is about 82°. The maximum can be reached after about 17 cycles, and requires about 80 seconds of swinging.
The date and time of the above visit will be confirmed on the website: www.ficcyouthrally2009.blogspot.com
- The most modern construction in the Obradoiro is the Pazo de Raxoi, a compact example of Neoclassical architecture, built at the end of the eighteenth century, and currently shared by Santiago City Council and the Presidency of the Government of Galicia. It was built by order of Archbishop Bartolomé de Raxoi y Losada and on its central pediment can be seen a minute depiction of the battle of Clavijo with a large sculpture of St. James above.
- The northern side of the Praza do Obradoiro is occupied by the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos, as a royal hospital and hospice built by Ferdinand V of Aragón and Isabella I of Castile for pilgrims in the sixteenth century. Today it is a parador - a five star hotel - and one of the most luxurious hotels in Galicia. Rich and varied Plateresque decoration can be seen in the entrance and its four interior patios are also outstanding.
- The huge dimensions of the rest of the buildings on the Praza do Obradoiro emphasize the humble appearance and the unusual charm of the Colegio de San Jerónimo, where the University Rector has his office. The facade, a beautiful example of late-Romanesque architecture, originates from an old hospital.
- Completing the square is the Pazo de Xelmírez, (Guelmírez Palace) built between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and considered the most outstanding example of Romanesque civil architecture in Spain. Its sober exterior conceals an interior full of superb Romanesque features such as the vaults of the refectory, adorned with scenes from a medieval banquet.
- Still on the square, from the outer terrace of the Hostal and alongside the typical Rúa das Hortas, can be seen the Iglesia de San Fructuoso, a Baroque church of the eighteenth century, where four particularly interesting sculptures representing Prudence, Justice, Strength and Temperance can be seen on the cornice.
- Before moving off towards the Plaza de las Platerías, it is worth paying a visit to the Colegio de Fonseca, on the small, cool square which shares the same name. The University Library is to be found there and its Renaissance facade and its cloister, where exhibitions are held, catch the eye. The Seminary of Galician Studies was based there and it was also the seat of the first democratic parliament of the autonomous region of Galicia.
- The medieval silversmith unions gave their name to the Plaza de las Platerías and to the southern facade of the cathedral, with the only remaining Romanesque door in existence. The many shops still selling jewellery today create a lively atmosphere in the square which has a stylish fountain in the centre known as the Fuente de los Caballos. Opposite the fountain stands the Casa del Cabildo, a Baroque building, measuring only three metres from front to back wall as it has a purely decorative function; to close one of the sides of the beautiful square.
- The majestic Torre del Reloj or Berenguela, over seventy metres high, stands over both the Plaza de las Platerías and the Plaza de la Quintana. At the height of the Baroque period, Domingo de Andrade constructed his master work on a Gothic base, extravagantly sculpting its walls. The tower houses the Berenguela bell, which marks the passing of time there with its sonorous and powerful ringing, as well as the lantern which guided the pilgrims and which is lit in Holy Years and on special occasions.
- Aside from the majestic solemnity of the Obradoiro, the Plaza de la Quintana is even more spectacular for its stone bareness. A meeting point par excellence, it is a wonderful array of light and shadow, both day and night. It is on two levels; the lower part is known as Quintana de Mortos and the upper, Quintana de Vivos. The royal Portico is located here, where the religious processions exit, and the famous Puerta Santa, which is opened only in Holy Years.
- The southern side of the square is formed by the Casa de los Canónigos or Casa da Conga, also built by Domingo de Andrade and completed by Casas y Novoa in the eighteenth century, a building notable for its huge fireplaces and the pleasant cafes in its colonnades. Directly opposite, on the other side of the square, in the Quintana de Vivos, the Casa de la Parra, covered with exuberant vegetation, catches the eye.
- The disconcerting, for its inspired and dizzying enormity, wall of the Benedictine Monasterio de San Paio de Antealtares closes the Plaza de la Quintana on its eastern side. This seemingly endless wall, incorporating 48 barred windows which appear to be making a silent call, has been admired by architects through the centuries. An seemingly endless stone bench runs along the foot of the wall catching the last rays of the evening sun.
- Staying close to the cathedral, by passing through the narrow alleyway of the Travesía de la Quintana you come to the Inmaculada or Azabachería facade in the street of the same name, so-called because of the famous jewellers union who worked and still work the beautiful stone, azabache (jet). A mix of Baroque and Neoclassical styles, it is modest in contrast to the Monasterio de San Martiño Pinario which stands opposite; an example of the power once attained by the Benedictine Order, even rivalling the cathedral and the Inquisition itself. Its western facade and its gargoyles are outstanding as are its interior cloisters. The restored Iglesia de San Martiño Pinario is impressively grand and houses elaborate altarpieces. Its facade is reached by the most hidden-away streets of the city, Campás de San Xoán and Moade Vella, and once there, you can admire the amazing staircases which turn back on themselves.
HOW TO GET THERE
BY AIR
Flights operated at Lavacolla, Santiago de Compostela’s airport
Its air-traffic network features national and international flights by the following companies:
- Iberia
- Spanair
- Air Europa
- Air France
- British Airways
- Ryanair
- Vueling
- Aer Lingus
- Clickair
Lavacolla Airport, Santiago-Lugo Road, km 11- Telephone +34 981 597 400.
BY TRAIN
RAILWAY STATION (RENFE, (Rúa do Hórreo, s/n., Santiago de Compostela Telephone: +34 981 59 60 50.BY ROAD
- Its bus station (San Caetano, no number. Telephone 981 587 700) provides connections with the main Galician municipalities, and most important Spanish and European cities.
- Its main access roads are, southbound, from A Coruña and Ferrol, via the AP-9 motorway; northbound, from Portugal, Tui, Vigo and Pontevedra, via the AP-9 motorway. You can also take the N-550 road, which runs through the city from north to south. From Madrid, the N-VI dual carriageway towards A Coruña and then the AP-9 motorway.
DISTANCES FROM SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA IN SPAIN
A Coruña |
57 Km |
Ferrol |
95 Km |
Lugo |
107 Km |
Ourense |
110 Km |
Pontevedra |
50 Km |
Vigo |
92 Km |
A Toxa |
70 Km |
Noia |
36 Km |
Fisterra |
110 Km |
Madrid |
524 km |
Barcelona |
1.107 Km |
Oviedo |
310 Km |
Oporto |
229 Km |
Lisboa |
533 Km |
León |
325 Km |
DISTANCES FROM EUROPEAN CITIES TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
AMSTERDAM ATHENS BARCELONA BERN BERLIN BRUSSELS BUDAPEST COPENHAGEN DUBLIN EDINBURGH STOCKHOLM |
2.091 |
HELSINKI |
3.880 |
For more information:
CONTACT E-mail: ficcyouthrally2009@gmail.com Website: www.ficcyouthrally2009.blogspot.com Fax: 0034 986 473 273; Personal attention: +34 666 391 738 |
*Please, note that the programme may subject to changes.
Download:
INFORMATION FICC YOUTH RALLY 2009 (as PDF)
RALLY'S PROGRAMME AND BOOKING FORMS (as PDF)