Fourteen pupils from the Lower Sixth recently returned from an exchange visit to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain. Our host school, The Colegio Manuel Peleteiro, has just opened its new campus on the edge of the city: the building, which caters for both primary and secondary students, is an impressive feat of architecture and boasts a light and futuristic façade with spectacular views of the surrounding forest.

We were privileged to be visiting Santiago during Holy Year, an event which will not occur again until 2021. We explored historic Santiago and its grand 12th Century cathedral and walked part of the famous Camino de Santiago, the route of the pilgrims, enjoying the beautiful Galician countryside in sunshine.

Time was shared between lessons in school and local excursions. The Roman Hercules Tower in La Coruña is an impressive lighthouse overlooking a spectacular coastline. We also visited the 400 million euro ‘Ciudad de la Cultura’, a project still under construction which will promote Galician culture, and a number of museums: the interactive Galicia Digital museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art and La casa de Rosalia, dedicated to the life of the famous Galician author. Donning plastic overalls and hats in preparation for a fully guided tour of an award-winning local cheese factory (including an obligatory cheese tasting) met almost universal approval, even if a few found the smell rather overbearing!

We returned with overseas friendships and linguistic skills rekindled.