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​Walking the Camino by
Joan Grifols

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is one of the three important pilgrimage cities of Christianity, alongside Jerusalem and Rome. The end point of the pilgrimage to Santiago is the tomb of an Apostle – St James or Santiago – one of the 12 who were part of Christ's intimate circle.

Santiago, in Galicia in northwestern Spain, is at the heart of a web of ancient pilgrim ways criss-crossing Europe, known collectively as the Camino. The most famous of them is the Way of St James; a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is one of the oldest and most important Christian pilgrimage routes. 

However, all the routes culminate on the shrine of St James, whose relics are housed in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. In 2015, 215,000 pilgrims of 115 different nationalities arrived at Santiago de Compostela, having travelled at least the last 100km on foot or horseback, or the last 200km by bicycle.


In 2017 Xunta de Galacia, the executive body of the autonomous region of Galacia, and the City of Santiago de Compostela joined the European 
Picture

Xunta de Galacia
​City of Santiago de Compostela

Green Pilgrimage Network. Santiago de Compostela has already gained recognition for greening and has been awarded 5 international environmental protection prizes, while the city itself has ​many green areas including 54 gardens.

​In 1985 the ​city's Old Town was designated a 
UNESCO World Heritage Site. ​​Future plans include a ‘Smart Cities’ programme aimed at reducing environmental contamination and also creating new recycling projects to re-use waste products. 

History of the Camino

Picture

Rediscovery of St James's tomb

The history of the Camino goes back to the start of the 9th century, when St James's tomb was rediscovered. James, brother of John (possibly the Evangelist), was buried in Santiago after being beheaded in Jerusalem in 44AD. Santiago Cathedral became a key medieval pilgrimage destination. 
Picture

Huge revival of interest

The Camino fell in popularity over subsequent centuries but was rediscovered at the end of the 19th century. ​The last 30 years have seen an extraordinary revival of interest in the pilgrimage and it is claimed that there are even more pilgrims today than there were in the Middle Ages.
Picture

World Heritage Site

One of the routes, the Camino Francés, was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October 1987. The Camino de Santiago (Way of St James) was inscribed as one of UNESCO’s designated World Heritage Sites in 1993.

The scallop shell and the Camino

Picture
The scallop shell is an iconic image of the Camino, dating back hundreds of years, and today is used, together with a yellow arrow, as a signpost to point travellers in the right direction.

The scallop shell is native to the Galicia region. In medieval times, pilgrims would tie a scallop shell to their staff, hats or cloaks as a symbol of pilgrimage, or bring back scallop shells to prove they had been to Santiago de Compostela. 

Scallop shells were also used for eating and a scallop shell scoop was the measure for the food that pilgrims were given by churches and other establishments.

Getting the Compostela

The Compostela is the accreditation of the pilgrimage to the Tomb of St James. To get the Compostela you must:
  • Make the pilgrimage for religious or spiritual reasons, or at least an attitude of search.
  • Do the last 100 km on foot or horseback, or the last 200 km by bicycle. It is understood that the pilgrimage starts at one point and from there you come to visit the Tomb of St. James.
  • You must collect the stamps on the 'Credencial del Peregrino' from the places you pass through to certify that you have been there. You have to stamp the Credencial twice a day at least on the last 100 km (for pilgrims on foot or on horseback) or on the last 200 km (for cyclists pilgrims).

          The Pilgrim's Prayer

Saint James, Apostle, chosen
among the first. You were the first
to drink the Cup of the Master and
you are the great protector of pilgrims;
make us strong in faith ​and happy
 in hope on our pilgrim journey 
following the path of Christian life
and sustain us so that we may 
finally reach the glory of God 
​the Father. Amen.
With thanks to Creative Commons photographers. Picture credits, from top, left to right: Camino by Joan Grifols; Cathedral of Santiago
​de Compostela, by Bernt Rostad; Pilgrim's crosses, by Phil Kleingold; Camino, by Joan Grifols; pilgrim and shell, from ARC. 

Location

European Green Pilgrimage Network

The European Green Pilgrimage Network
Diocese of Canterbury 
​Communities & Partnerships Office
Second Floor
The Old Palace
The Precincts
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2EE

Email: EGPN @ diocant.org
European Green Pilgrimage Network logo
  • Home
  • About EGPN
    • EGPN HISTORY
    • EGPN NEWSLETTERS >
      • EGPN SPRING 2019
      • EGPN WINTER 2017
    • INTERREG PROJECT LAUNCH >
      • PRESENTATIONS
      • INTERREG PROJECT
      • INTERREG BEST PRACTICE
      • STUDY VISITS
    • EGPN SUPPORTERS
  • MEMBERS
    • CANTERBURY
    • ETCHMIADZIN
    • LUSS
    • NORWICH
    • ST ALBANS
    • SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
    • TRONDHEIM
    • VADSTENA
  • GREEN PILGRIMAGE
    • KEY AREAS TO CONSIDER
    • INSPIRING STORIES
    • SEVEN STAGES OF PILGRIMAGE
  • RESOURCES
    • THEOLOGIES
    • TOOLKITS & DOWNLOADS
    • USEFUL LINKS
  • Contact