The former Bank of Spain in Santiago de Compostela was located in the plaza de Platerías and since its completion in 1949 had the dubious honour of being the most controversial building in the city. The construction of the new pilgrims’ museum by Manuel Gallego in the abandoned bank building succeeded in eliminating the negative energy that had always resided there. The need to conserve the stone facade didn’t impede the reorganization of the building complex, nor did the phrase “contemporary architecture as a new reference on the urban scene” as stated in the specific urban planning guidelines for the historic city centre. The new building is flexible and its visitor path is proposed as the continuation of the route of the Camino de Santiago, which culminates in a lookout from which to contemplate the Cathedral.
