Camino de Santiago
Network of pilgrim routes to the shrine of St. James.
The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, is a network of pilgrims' ways leading to the shrine of the apostle James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwestern Spain. Created in the early 9th century following the discovery of the relics of Saint James the Great, it became a major pilgrimage route of medieval Christianity from the 10th century onward and was traditionally recognized as one of the three great pilgrimages of Christendom.
- Established
- Early 9th century
- Major pilgrimage route from
- 10th century
- Declared one of three great pilgrimages
- Medieval tradition
- First cultural route of the council of e
- 1987
- Unesco world heritage inscription (frenc
- 1998
- Annual pilgrims since 2013
- more than 200,000
- Symbol
- scallop shell
Lore & Background
The Camino de Santiago originated after the discovery of the relics of Saint James the Great in the early 9th century. According to legend, St. James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain and buried in what is now Santiago de Compostela. The main route follows an earlier Roman trade route to Cape Finisterre, which the Romans called Finisterrae, meaning 'end of the world.' The Milky Way overhead gave the route the nickname 'Voie lactée' in French.
Reader's Guide
The Camino de Santiago was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages of the later Middle Ages, alongside the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Pilgrims could earn a plenary indulgence. The route declined due to the Black Death, the Protestant Reformation, and political unrest in 16th-century Europe. In 1987, it became the first Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, and since 2013 it has attracted more than 200,000 pilgrims annually. The French Way and Northern routes in Spain were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. The scallop shell, found on Galician shores, became the symbol of the Camino, used as a waymarker and worn by pilgrims. Holy Years occur when St. James's Day (25 July) falls on a Sunday; recent Holy Years include 1993, 1999, 2004, 2010, and 2021, with the next in 2027.
Did You Know?
- The scallop shell symbol originated partly from a myth in which a horse and rider emerged from the sea covered in seashells after a miraculous intervention.
- The Milky Way overhead along the route gave it the French nickname 'Voie lactée.'
- The earliest known pilgrim from beyond the Pyrenees is Godescalc of Le Puy, who visited the shrine in 950.
More in World Heritage Sites in Spain 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced