The Fonseca and San Xerome colleges can both be visited on guided tours arranged under the Universidade Vivascheme, designed to show the city’s heritage to locals and visitors. But these are not the only university buildings in the city’s historic part, for the university as an institution has always been keen not only to preserve its existing heritage but also to spread into as many surrounding houses and palaces as possible. At the other side of the old walled city stands the Facultade de Xeografía e Historia (Geography and History Faculty) and the Iglesia de la Universidad.

Throughout the twentieth century, Santiago de Compostela University has undergone many changes, firstly with the early-century modernising spirit and the creation of the University Residence and then with the huge enrolment increase and the concomitant increase in subjects taught. To cater for this growth two campuses were created in the north and south of the historic part of the city.

The southern campus, the Campus Sur, originated from the Regional Expo of 1909. It occupies a spacious gardened area next to the Parque de la Alameda. Its hub is the Neobaroque colleges raised in the first half of the century, surrounded by spacious green areas and sports facilities. With time new facilities were tagged on with offices, residencies, a football pitch, pavilion and athletics stadium. It is currently the centre for students of Physics, Law, Pharmacy, Mathematics and Philosophy, among others. Recent years have seen further additions of contemporary design such as the Social Sciences library, the enlargement of the Politics Faculty and research institutes.

The Campus Norte is more recent. It is characterised by contemporary buildings designed by some of the most renowned architects of the day, with garden spaces in between them. The most important buildings of this campus are the Auditorio de Galicia and the faculties of Economics and Business Studies, Philology and Communication Sciences. This last building was the brainchild of the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza, whose holistic approach to the project took in not only the architecture but also much of the furniture inside, such as the seats, desks and litter bins. Several experts rate this building as Siza’s best.

All these areas and others such as the Casa Europa (guest professor residence) set of buildings can be visited on the aforementioned guided tours, including entrance to the Natural History Museum.

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