Parque de San Domingos de Bonaval

Parque de San Domingos de Bonaval is one of the most rewarding city parks in Santiago de Compostela, spread over a hillside on the north-eastern edge of the old town, in the San Pedro neighborhood, right where the French Way traditionally enters the city.

Where did this park come from?

The land once belonged to the Dominican convent of San Domingos de Bonaval. In the late 1980s the city commissioned Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza, working with Isabel Aguirre, to turn the convent's overgrown grounds into a public park. The project ran from 1989 to 2000, and the park itself opened to the public in 1994. Rather than clearing the site's history away, the architects folded the existing convent features into the new layout: a medicinal herb garden, sections of old walls and ruins, an oak grove known locally as a carballeira, and the historic Bonaval Cemetery.

What is there to see inside?

Walking through the park moves you across clearly distinct zones — a shaded grove, open lawns, and the stone walls and water channels typical of Siza's work. Sculptures by artists such as Eduardo Chillida and Leopoldo Nóvoa sit among the greenery without dominating it. The standout feature is the viewpoint on Almáciga Hill, which opens onto a wide panorama of Santiago's rooftops and towers — one of the few spots in the city where you can take in the entire old town from above, for free and away from the crowds below.

What about the cemetery?

The park still holds the historic Bonaval Cemetery, linked for more than five centuries to the Rosary Confraternity (Cofradía do Rosario) — one of very few private cemeteries in Santiago. It has been secularised and no longer receives burials, but it's regularly used as a venue for sacred music concerts and other cultural events; its stone architecture and evening lighting give it a distinctive acoustic and atmosphere after dark.

Which museums sit next to the park?

The entrance to the park runs between two contrasting buildings. On one side stands the former convent of San Domingos de Bonaval, now home to the Museo do Pobo Galego (Museum of the Galician People), which also houses the Pantheon of Illustrious Galicians and its famous spiral staircase. On the other side is the Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea (CGAC), also designed by Álvaro Siza and dedicated to contemporary art. Both can easily be visited in the same trip without any extra travel.

When is the best time to visit, and what does it cost?

Entry to the park is free, and opening hours shift with the season: in winter (October to March) it's open from 8:00 to 20:00, and in summer (April to September) from 8:00 to 23:00, which leaves enough time to catch sunset from the viewpoint. The park covers close to 40,000 square meters, so even during peak tourist season it's easy to find a quiet corner away from the crowds in the old town.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entry fee? No, access to Parque de San Domingos de Bonaval is completely free, including the viewpoint on Almáciga Hill.

How long does a visit take? Walking the park and reaching the viewpoint typically takes 30 to 45 minutes. Adding a stop at the neighboring Museo do Pobo Galego or the CGAC brings a full visit to 2–3 hours.

Are burials still held in the cemetery? No, the historic Bonaval Cemetery has been secularised and no longer functions as a burial ground. Today its space hosts concerts and cultural events instead.

How do you get to the park from central Santiago? The park sits on a hill right beside the old town, in the San Pedro neighborhood. From Praza do Obradoiro it's roughly a 10–15 minute walk, mostly uphill.