<P> The Hostal dos Reis Católicos (in Galician), also called the Hostal de Los Reyes Católicos (in Spanish) or Parador de Santiago, is a 5 - star Parador hotel, located in the Praza do Obradoiro, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain . The hotel was constructed as a religious work in 1486, by Ferdinand and Isabel, the Catholic Monarchs . It is widely considered the oldest continuously operating hotel in the world, and has also been called the "most beautiful hotel in Europe". </P> <P> The Hostal dos Reis Católicos sits at the very end of the famous pilgrimage trail, the Way of St. James, next to the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral . </P> <P> Pilgrims from all over Europe, throughout the Middle Ages, both rich and poor, followed the Way of St. James, and arrived in Santiago de Compostela . In the late 15th century Ferdinand and Isabel themselves completed the pilgrimage across northern Spain . As a sign of their religious piety, and their growing economic and political might, they began a program to improve the infrastructure and support services on the pilgrimage trail in Spain . They built new hostels, bridges, churches, and public wells . </P> <P> The most improvement project by Isabel and Ferdinand was the Hostal, right next to the great cathedral at the very end of the pilgrimage trail . The Hostal de los Reyes Católicos served as a hospice and a hospital, where pilgrims could recover and rejuvenate after completing the pilgrimage . The Hostal had a multilingual staff of doctors, nurses, and priests on call 24 hours a day; and provided all services free of charge . Pilgrims were allowed to recover at the Hostal for 3 days in the summer, and 5 days in the winter . </P>

Hostal de los reyes catolicos santiago de compostela spain