Museo do Pobo Galego (Museum of the Galician People)
The former Convent of Santo Domingo de Bonaval, situated on a hill outside the walls of the historical city, beside the road used by pilgrims to enter Compostela, now houses the Museo do Pobo Galego (Museum of the Galician People), which, by means of a wide-ranging and varied collection of pieces, provides a general view of the most representative expressions of Galicia's own culture. Its permanent rooms display different aspects of costal life, traditional trades, the country, traditional costumes and architecture. It also includes sections of Galician archaeology, painting and sculpture. Different temporary exhibitions are regularly organized on a variety of subjects.
The Museum of the Galician People was created under the auspices of a Trust, formed by entities and individuals that work in the different areas of Galician culture and by representatives of public and academic institutions. It was opened in October 1977 in a building ceded by Santiago de Compostela City Council.
The Convent of Bonaval, founded in the 13th century by St. Domingo de Guzmán, was rebuilt according to the baroque style in the 17th and 18th centuries. The most outstanding part was designed by the architect Domingo de Andrade. Inside we can admire an original triple helical stairway.
The church dates from the time of the foundation. It reflects the baroque style and underwent different alterations and extensions until the 16th century. It houses the Pantheon of Illustrious Galicians, where the remains of the poetess Rosalía de Castro, the regionalist politician Alfredo Brañas, the sculptor Francisco Asorey, the poet Ramón Cabanillas, the geographer Domingo Fontán and the artist and nationalist politician Alfonso R. Castelao repose.
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Museo do Pobo Galego (Museum of the Galician People)
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