Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Join us in Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its exceptional historical and cultural significance. This welcoming, peaceful, and secure city offers an ideal environment for young learners—vibrant yet uncrowded, rich in tradition yet easy to navigate.
At Academia Iria Flavia, we offer a high-quality educational experience rooted in more than 25 years of expertise. Since 1998, we have hosted international student groups from the UK, Italy, France, Austria, Germany, India, the USA, and beyond. Founded in 1994, our school is proudly accredited by the Instituto Cervantes, a mark of excellence in Spanish language instruction.
We invite you to discover an immersive, enriching, and unforgettable cultural journey with us!
Santiago de Compostela is an ideal destination for a study trip, offering a welcoming, safe, and manageable environment. With a population of approximately 90,000 residents and a compact layout—just 45 minutes on foot from one end of the city to the other—Santiago combines the charm of a small town with the richness of a cultural capital.
The city has been widely recognized for both its historic significance and its commitment to preservation. Among its distinctions are:
Designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Recipient of the European Town Planning Prize
Awarded the Europa Nostra Prize for excellence in the restoration and conservation of cultural heritage
Named a European City of Culture in 2000, alongside Avignon, Bergen, Bologna, Brussels, Krakow, Helsinki, Prague, and Reykjavik
Santiago’s deep cultural heritage, along with its thoughtful urban development and welcoming atmosphere, make it an exceptional setting for academic and cultural immersion.
The program offers a unique combination of experiences, including one week of a guided and narrated walk along El Camino de Santiago, followed by two or three weeks of Spanish language and culture courses held in classrooms in Santiago de Compostela.
Duration: 1.5 hours (min. 10 students)
Feel the rhythm and move to the beat! Learn the basics of salsa or sharpen your skills in this lively and energizing dance session.
Duration: 2 hours
Cook, learn, and taste! Guided by a professional, you’ll prepare some of Spain’s most iconic dishes — then enjoy your creations with drinks included.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Step into Galicia’s past inside a 15th-century convent. Explore traditional culture through art, architecture, music, the sea, and everyday life.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Discover how pilgrimages helped shape Santiago. This museum explores the city’s origins, its cultural heritage, and its connection to the Camino de Santiago.
Duration: 1 hour
Travel back to 19th-century student life in this recreation of a historic boarding house, made famous in the novel La Casa de la Troya.
Duration: 1 hour
Enjoy breathtaking views of Santiago from above and discover the architectural history behind the city’s most iconic monument — the Cathedral.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Santiago de Compostela is a city full of interesting places and nice historical anecdotes. We will have a walk through the city and discover its secrets
Accommodation along El Camino is arranged in small hotels, providing a comfortable and authentic experience throughout the journey. The program includes six nights of hotel accommodation: one night in Santiago de Compostela prior to the start of the walk, followed by five nights in hotels along the route. Each evening, participants stay in a hotel where dinner and the next day's breakfast are provided. Accommodation is based on twin rooms, with a supplement available for those who prefer a single room.
Students can choose from several types of accommodation during their stay. Host family stays provide a cultural immersion experience with shared meals, a private or shared bedroom, laundry service, and packed lunches for off-site activities. Students are treated as members of the household and are accompanied to school on the first day.
Single rooms are available at no extra cost when there is an odd number of boys or girls in a group.
Hotel or student residence accommodations can also be arranged for school groups. These options are subject to availability at the time of enrollment, with final prices and conditions based on the original quote.
The Camino Francés, the most well-known route of the Camino de Santiago, stretches from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela. This program covers its final segment, divided into six walking stages through the diverse landscapes of Galicia—from mountains to valleys, historic villages, and centuries-old religious architecture.
Participants will engage with Galician culture through guided discussions led by a teacher-guide, covering topics such as the origins of the pilgrimage, the Apostle’s burial, monastic hospitality, historical and modern pilgrim motivations, the construction of the Camino, local agriculture, and regional wines and cuisine.
The experience also offers opportunities to connect with pilgrims from around the world. The itinerary may be adjusted due to weather, lodging availability, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Our pilgrimage begins with an arrival in Santiago and an introductory briefing before transferring to Sarria, the official start of our journey. Over six stages, we walk through the heart of Galicia, covering approximately 100 kilometers/62.14 miles. From the forests and farmlands between Sarria and Portomarín to the historic churches of Eirexe and Melide, each stage reveals the cultural and natural richness of the region. We pass through traditional villages, sample local specialties such as queso de Ulloa and aguardiente, and witness centuries-old traditions embedded in the landscape. The final stage leads us to Monte do Gozo, where we catch our first glimpse of Santiago’s cathedral before completing our walk through the city’s historic streets. In Santiago, we celebrate our achievement with a guided visit and receive the Compostela certificate.
Our Camino begins with a morning meeting and transfer to Sarria, the most popular starting point for pilgrims completing the final 100 kilometers to Santiago. The day’s walk takes us through serene forests, open fields, and quiet hamlets. As we approach Portomarín, we cross the Miño River and enter a village with a unique story—relocated stone by stone in the 1960s after the original site was submerged by a reservoir. Here, we visit the Church of San Nicolás, a remarkable fortress-like structure. Enjoy a taste of aguardiente, Galicia’s traditional spirit, before settling in for dinner and our overnight stay.
We continue through rolling countryside and small farming villages toward Palas de Rei. Along the way, we pause in Eirexe to admire its simple but historic pre-Romanesque church dedicated to Santiago. As we near Palas de Rei, we may catch our first view of Pico Sacro, a hill associated with Camino legends. The region is also known for queso de Ulloa, a creamy local cheese worth sampling. Dinner and accommodation await in Palas de Rei.
Today’s path winds through quiet Galician villages like Leboreiro and Furelos, each with centuries-old chapels that reflect the deep spiritual roots of the Camino. The short walk allows time to explore Melide, where we stay for the night. This town is famous for its local gastronomy—especially pulpo a la gallega (Galician-style octopus), a dish many pilgrims savor along the way.
Our journey continues through rural landscapes dotted with villages like Boente and Castañeda. The route features gentle terrain, a mix of dirt paths and old country roads. We arrive in Arzúa, a town known for producing some of the most celebrated cheese in Galicia. Here, pilgrims often enjoy a peaceful evening reflecting on the journey. Dinner and overnight in Arzúa.
As we near our destination, we pass through a patchwork of meadows, woodlands, and traditional villages. Names like A Calzada and A Rúa reveal their historical connections to the Camino. The trail here blends natural paths with stretches alongside quiet roads. Pilgrim-friendly cafés and rest stops offer welcome breaks along the way. We spend the night in O Pedrouzo, our final stop before reaching Santiago.
The final stage of the Camino is filled with excitement and anticipation. We walk through pine and eucalyptus groves toward Monte do Gozo—“Mount of Joy”—where pilgrims traditionally get their first view of the Cathedral spires in Santiago. From there, we follow city streets and lively squares into the historic heart of Santiago de Compostela. At the Cathedral, we mark the end of our pilgrimage and receive the Compostela, the certificate awarded to those who complete at least 100 kilometers on foot. Our journey concludes with a guided visit of the city and a chance to celebrate our accomplishment together.