The Hostal dos Reis Católicos (in Galician), also called the Hostal de Los Reyes Católicos (in Spanish) or Parador de Santiago de Compostela, is a five-star Parador hotel, located in the Praza do Obradoiro of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It is widely considered one of the oldest continuously operating hotel in the world, and has also been called the "most beautiful hotel in Europe". In 1486, after a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, decided to build a hostelry and hospital for pilgrims at the very end of the Way of St James. They provided the necessary funds in 1499, construction began in 1501 and it took over ten years. It continued with this function for four centuries. In 1953, the hospital was moved to a new location nearby, and in 1954 it opened as a hotel after undergoing a renovation. In 1986, it was incorporated to the Paradores network. Nowadays, with its 137 rooms it is the finest and largest by capacity parador of the network, and continuing its hospitable tradition, it provides free services to a limited number of pilgrims every day. Background Pilgrimage trail Pilgrims from all over Europe, throughout the Middle Ages, both rich and poor, followed the famous pilgrimage trail, the Way of St. James, leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. In 1486, Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II 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. They built new hostels, bridges, churches, and public wells. The major improvement project by the Catholic Monarchs was the Hostal at the very end of the pilgrimage trail, right next to the cathedral. Hospitality The words hostal, hotel, hostel, hostelry, hospital and hospice share the same root, based on the Latin hospes meaning guest. Nowadays, the concepts are clearly differentiated, but at the time the Hostal started operation the idea of its functions included sleep, food, as well as care for wounded feet and other ailments deriving from long-distance walking. There was little distinction between lodging and medical care as hostels were guided by the general concept of hospitality. Building The Hostal