Camino de Santiago: What it is and where to start
- Wild Dirt
- Oct 20, 2024
- 2 min read
The Origin of the Camino de Santiago
The origin of the ‘Camino de Santiago’ dates back to the Middle Ages, among ancient roads that Roman engineers built to make their way through the Spanish geography. But what is it today? Twelve centuries later, pilgrims followed the route to venerate the tomb of the apostle Santiago el Mayor (St. James the Greater), one of the most prominent apostles of Jesus of Nazareth, according to various New Testament texts. The route culminates in the city of Santiago de Compostela, in the region of Galicia, in northern Spain. Every year (and at any time of the year), thousands and thousands of people put on their boots and set out on what has become one of the most visited vacation destinations.
Despite its name, the ‘Camino de Santiago’ is not "a road" in its literal sense but an extensive network of routes and travel itineraries full of yellow arrows and scallop shells that direct you to the Galician city. With more than 83,000 kilometres of travel, there are currently more than 281 catalogued routes through 29 different countries. However, there are several that stand out as the main routes.
Camino Francés (the French Way)
It enters Spain and crosses the Pyrenees. It is the most chosen place to start the Camino. Most of them begin from Sarria, in Lugo, as it is just over 100 km from Santiago, the minimum distance that must be covered to obtain the Compostela. This is the certificate that certifies having completed the pilgrimage.
Camino Primitivo (the Primitive Way)
The oldest... and most beautiful. And rightly so! It was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2015, along with the Camino del Norte. Roman roads and green and colorful landscapes will make you fall in love with rural Galicia.
Camino del Norte (the Northern Route)
The longest route stretches over 820 km of lush forests, villages and rivers. It runs along the Cantabrian coast, from Irún to Ribadeo (at the entrance to Galicia), and much of it passes through tourist areas, combining rural and urban beauty.
Camino Portugués (the Portuguese Way)
With the starting point in Portugal, one of the most recommended sections is the one that begins in Tui, which runs along the coast of Baiona to Porto. This is a fundamental territory to understand the accurate international dimension of the pilgrimage phenomenon.
There are still infinite routes to discover. Be attentive and curious to continue to know a surprising Galicia through the eyes of the pilgrimage. Do you feel like a different kind of vacation? ¡Buen camino!
