The former Royal Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, today known as the Hostal dos Reis Católicos, once owned a group of houses whose exact number is not known. These houses, built ex profeso, acquired, or received through donations, had a dual function: on the one hand, they served to accommodate workers or people associated with the hospital; on the other, when rented out, they generated income used for the maintenance of the institution.
Today, some of these houses can still be seen in the historic centre of Santiago de Compostela. Many of them were built from the 16th century onwards, although most date particularly from the 18th century. They can be identified by the presence of the Jerusalem cross carved on their façades. This cross, formed by four arms of equal length, indicated that the property belonged to the Royal Hospital1.
Some of these buildings are located close to the hospital, while others are scattered throughout the old town.
A Jerusalem cross can be seen on the house at number 6 on Rúa San Francisco. The year in which the mark was carved is also indicated: “ANO DE 1749”.
Cross on the house number 2 on Travesía entre Dúas Portas.
Crosses on the houses number 1 and 2 on Rúa Valdedeus.
Cross on the house number 10 on Rúa Valdedeus, the mark includes the abbreviation “OSP/RE,” which stands for Hospital Real.
The cross located on the house at number 20 on Rúa Carretas is surrounded by a wreath.
Rúa das Hortas, number 39.
Cross on the house number 22 on Rúa do Franco with the abbreviation “OSP/RE”.
- Photos and main text by Sabela Nóvoa Gómez moc.liamg|im9211ebas#| (January 2026)
- Locate these items on this Google Map. The purple crosses indicate the location of the houses.
Bibliography:
- Aracil, C. (2013). Elementos heráldicos en el Hostal de los Reyes Católicos – Santiago de Compostela-. Anuario brigantino, 36, 369-380
- Carro Otero, X. (1998). Materiais para unha historia da medicina galega. Tomo II. Consellería de Sanidade e Servicios Sociais (35-45)