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The legend of the Santo Domingo de la Calzada chickens is a fascinating and miraculous tale associated with the Spanish town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, which lies on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. The story dates back to the 14th century and centers around a young German pilgrim named Hugonell who was traveling with his parents on the pilgrimage.
According to the legend, in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, a local innkeeper’s daughter took a liking to Hugonell, but he rejected her advances. In retaliation, she hid a silver cup in his belongings and accused him of theft. The accusation was taken seriously, and Hugonell was sentenced to be hanged. His parents, devastated, continued their pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. On their return journey, they found Hugonell still hanging but miraculously alive. He told them that Saint Dominic of the Causeway (Santo Domingo de la Calzada) had supported his feet and kept him alive.
His parents rushed to the local magistrate, who was in the middle of dinner, eating a roasted chicken. Skeptical of their story, he remarked that Hugonell was no more alive than the cooked chicken on his plate. Just then, the roasted chicken supposedly stood up and began to crow, proving the miracle. Convinced by this sign, the magistrate hurried to the gallows and cut Hugonell down, saving his life.
As a testament to this miracle, the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada contains a chicken coop where live chickens are kept to this day, and pilgrims and tourists can see them as they visit. The presence of live chickens in the cathedral serves as a reminder of the miracle and the town’s deep historical connections to the pilgrimage route.
