El Camino de Santiago

El Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James), is an ancient Christian pilgrimage that has been walked continuously since the time of Charlemagne, 1,200 years ago. Pilgrims can start from almost anywhere in Europe, but the final destination is always the same, the tomb of St. James in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostella.

During the Medieval period there were three main pilgrimages Christians often took: To Jerusalem, to Rome and to Santiago. The road to Santiago is the only one still walked on a consistent basis today.

The most popular route is called the Camino Frances, which begins on the border between France and Spain and heads west for approximately 500 miles across two mountain ranges and the long flat plains of Northern Spain.

Over the course of the centuries a robust systems of hostels and other establishments that cater to pilgrims, such as restaurants and monasteries, has evolved and except for the busiest time of year, they provide a comfortable and inexpensive place to stay each night.

People of all ages walk the Camino for many different purposes. Some do it for purely spiritual reasons, others do it for vacation, and a few actually try to speed walk the route to break various sporting records.

The route requires a great deal of walking, usually 10 to 15 miles a day for about a month. Those interested in making the trip should make sure they train and are in good physical shape. It is also acceptable to ride a horse or a bicycle, but the most common method is on foot. Most people find if physically challenging, especially in the mountain sections. However, the majority of people seem to greatly enjoy their trip and remember it for a lifetime.