Spain Guide
Galicia
Museo do Pobo Galego
Address: Just east of the old quarter
Website: www.museodopobo.es
Opening time: Tues– Sat 10am–2pm & 4–8pm, Sun 11am–2pm
Price: Free
The convent and church of Santo Domingo features a unique seventeenth-century triple stairway, each spiral of which leads to different storeys of a single tower. Set off up different flights, and you may lose each other for hours. The convent houses the fascinating Museo do Pobo Galego, which features a diverse overview of Galego crafts and traditions, with a moving account of Galicia's history of emigration. Many aspects of the way of life displayed haven't yet entirely disappeared, though you're today unlikely to see corozas, straw suits worn into the last century by mountain shepherds.
The convent chapel now serves as the Panteon de Galegos Ilustres, home to the mortal remains of such local heroes as the poet Rosalia de Castro and the essayist and caricaturist Castelao. Gardens and orchards stretch up the hillside behind, offering a wonderful spot for a break from sightseeing.