Costa Diadema: LEX - KEL - LEX08A01

     Santiago de Compostela is one of the most famous holy places of Christianity; in Mediaeval times it was just as important as Jerusalem or Rome. According to legend, James the Apostle (Santiago) came to Spain after the death of Jesus to preach the Gospel. Later he returned to Judea where, under the orders of Herod, he was decapitated.
     His disciples took his body back to Spain to be buried. At first the faithful came to his tomb to pray but, after years of war and disorder, it lay abandoned and forgotten. At the beginning of the 9th century a hermit noticed a star shining above a hill in a field ("campus stellae" or "field of the star"). An altar and a tomb were discovered on the site, containing a decapitated body. King Alfonso II of Asturias ordered a church to be built on the tomb of the saint, which was later replaced by a larger one in 900 AD. Al-Mansur sacked the city in 997 and destroyed the church, but the tomb was left intact.
     The present cathedral was largely rebuilt in the 11th and 12th centuries. The cult of Saint James grew more and more with stories of his presumed brave intervention in the battles against the Moors. The Saint was seen to appear for the first time at the battle of Clavijo in 884. Over the years, Saint James killer of the Moors, who went down in history as "Santiago Matamoros", was honoured as the Patron Saint of the country. Pilgrims from all over Europe, ever greater in number, travelled along the so-called "Camino de Santiago" (The Way of Saint James) to the sanctuary, around which grew up a town.
     Along the way they found hospitality with monks and knights of religious orders. With their rough cloaks, robust sandals and wide brimmed hats decorated with a mollusc shell - the symbol of the saint - the pilgrims on their way to Santiago were easy to recognise. Many visitors are surprised to find a baroque rather than a mediaeval cathedral at Santiago. The first view of the cathedral in fact is the highly ornate Obradoiro facade, added in the 18th century. Behind this, however, is the old church with its magnificent doorway, the Pórtico de la Gloria (1188), a Roman masterpiece by Maestro Matheo. The narthex is comprised of three portals decorated with figures and sculptures in relief.
     In front of the central column, where there is a statue of St. James with a pilgrim's stick, the faithful would lean with their hands on the stone, which, repeated so often over the centuries, has left fingerprints in the stone. The inside of the cathedral, always in semi-darkness, is simple but enlivened by the magnificent ceremonies that take place on festival days, when eight men dressed in red carry an enormous silver thurible ("botafumeiro"), hang it from the vault and let it swing. Whistling and throwing off sparks, the thurible spreads the scent of incense throughout the cathedral evoking ancient rites. The immense Plaza de España, on the west side of the cathedral is lined with beautiful buildings from various eras and in various styles, but which nevertheless blend together harmoniously.
     The Hostal de los Reyes Católicos was built by King Fernando and Queen Isabel, "The Catholic Monarchs", as a hostel and hospital for the pilgrims. Its plateresque facade conceals a magnificent hotel. You can treat your palate to some Spanish specialities par excellence: paella and gazpacho vary widely from one place to the next. In fact there are at least thirty recipes for gazpacho, a chilled soup of Moorish origin, whose main ingredients are tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, oil, vinegar and basil. The saffron rice in paella can be accompanied by chicken, rabbit, sausage, ham, prawns, shellfish, squid and lobster.
     The region produces the good white wines Albarino and Ribeiro; Agullo and Condado are slightly sparkling and go especially well with shellfish. As for shopping, we recommend leather goods, candlesticks and other handmade wrought-iron articles and silver jewellery, for which the Galicians are famous. In Santiago look for the pilgrim's symbol, the silver mollusc shell.

The local gastronomy is rich in fresh seafood and traditional Norman specialties such as cheeses, cider, and calvados.

Easily accessible from Paris, Le Havre is the perfect escape from the bustle of the capital and a chance to discover a unique mix of modern urban architecture and authentic French coastal charm.

Cruises from Southampton are part of a rich maritime heritage. Some of the most famous ships have set sail from this port, which, before the rise of commercial air travel, was the main gateway to the world. Hollywood stars like Bette Davis and Elizabeth Taylor passed through here to board cruises from Southampton, and it is also known as the port from which the Titanic departed in 1912.

In the picturesque Old Town, walking along cobbled streets reveals 12th-century churches, Tudor-style houses, and one of the best-preserved medieval city walls in the UK, featuring the historic Bargate entrance. The city also offers lively marina-side bars, modern shopping districts, and a cultural quarter where the Mayflower Theatre stages popular West End musicals, while the SeaCity Museum documents Southampton’s rich maritime past.

Some of England’s most famous landmarks are just a short drive away: the Neolithic wonder Stonehenge, the picturesque spa city of Bath, or iconic London attractions like Buckingham Palace, Tate Modern, and Tower Bridge.

Discover 5,000 years of history and much more on a cruise from Southampton.

When it comes to the sea, there is no more important place in Germany – and arguably in Northern Europe – than Kiel. This port city in Schleswig-Holstein is a vital link between the Baltic and North Seas, located at the head of the Kiel Canal.

Kiel is also one of Northern Europe’s major cruise and shipbuilding centers, and it is especially known for Kieler Woche (Kiel Week), one of Europe’s largest regattas. Don’t miss a visit to the Kiel Aquarium, with its rich collection of marine life from the Baltic and North Seas.

Nature lovers can enjoy the expansive Baltic Sea beaches, seaside promenades, and picturesque botanical gardens with over 14,000 plant species. For those seeking historical and cultural experiences, fascinating open-air museums in Molfsee and the Baroque fortress in Eutin are located not far from Kiel.

Choose a Kiel cruise for unforgettable adventures in this captivating part of Germany.