Game of stones: calls to protect Spanish city’s centuries-old noughts and crosses

Local historians seek to preserve part of Santiago de Compostela's heritage after residents find nine-hole patterns across city

A local historical association in Santiago de Compostela has called for the protection of a lesser-known facet of the Spanish city's past: the almost 200 games of noughts and crosses carved centuries ago into some of its most emblematic buildings and spaces.

They're hidden in plain sight," said Luis Leclere of Colectivo A Rula. We've never heard of anything like the concentration of games we have here."