As a former student of the local university, I had been many times to the cathedral but being up on the roof showed me a lot of things I didn't know about the cathedral.

They will take you to the cathedral stone roofs (don't wear high heels!), where you get great views of the old city.

www.santiagoturismo.com/
€10 for 30-45 minutes, everyday 10am to 2 pm, 4pm-8pm. Booking recommended (especially in summer), entry via Pazo de Xelmirez, Praza do Obraodiro.

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Santiago is a university city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the destination of an important pilgrimage route. It has an impressive cathedral where, if you stay for pilgrims mass, you may be lucky enough to see an enormous incense burner (botafumero), swung dangerously low over people's heads during the service.

Like most Spanish cities, the nightlife is good here and anyone who feels brave can do the Paris-Dakar bar crawl - having a drink in each bar between 'Paris' and 'Dakar'. Try the local white wine, especially from Rías Baixas region, which is excellent. In some bars I remember wine being served in saucers, which seems a little abstemious on reflection, but you can always go nuts afterwards with the Basque digestif 'Patxaran'. This is a rather too-easy-to-drink sloe and anise spirit - a headache is guaranteed.

Regarding the weather, rain wear is essential here and don't skimp on quality or you'll find you spend most of your trip drying off in cafes then getting drenched again. In fact, to keep out the kind of torrents you'll face anywhere on the north coast of Spain, I'd recommend waterproofs and an umbrella. Spanish people will tell you that they feel sorry for you living in a country like the UK where it rains all the time. If only they knew! England is a desert compared to Galicia and Asturias. Go anyway though, but be prepared!

Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. a good link with info and further links is en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_de_Compostela

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Yes, it's in every guide book, and yes it's expensive, but it's the most beautiful hotel I've stayed in. It's a wonderful building organised around four courtyards. It has been immaculately restored and furnished. The staff clearly take pride in this flagship of the Parador chain, and the service is cool but impeccable. Food is good. Beds are comfortable. It is located on one of the finest squares in Europe, and there is even a terrace to watch the sunset.

Praza de Obradoira, Santiago de Compostela.

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I was worried that a previous reader had said 'Do not go to this restaurant'. I disregarded that tip and went anyway. It was expensive - our set menu was €62 - but every course was superb, apart from the gazpacho, which was merely excellent. This was precision cooking at a very high level.

Some high points: prawn in a cheese soup as an amuse gueule, clam with an albariño and onion sauce, coffee with an amazingly light almond biscuit. A reasonably-priced wine list, featuring local Galician wines - though we chose a rather expensive, but superb, Albariño. In brief, an outstanding restaurant in a region of good food.

Avenida Rosalía de Castro 24, Santiago de Compostela

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