El Camino de Santiago or The Way of St. James
The Way of St. James is a pilgrimage that has been taking place for over a thousand years. There are numerous paths to walk along, all with a common destination in northwestern Spain. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia is at the journey’s end of this pilgrimage. It is believed that the remains of the apostle St. James are buried here. It is also believed that this is one of only three pilgrimages to take where all of your sins are forgiven. There are several different historical paths to follow.
There is a bit more history behind the Way of St. James. It is believed that the Way may have been a pre-Christian Celtic death walk that ended at the Atlantic Ocean. This is why many people that travel to the Cathedral continue to Cape Finisterre. Modern pilgrims follow the path for religious reasons, while other travelers follow the path because of the challenge of the journey or just take a spiritual break from the world. No matter what reasons that you choose for following the Way of St. James, it is a journey you will never forget.
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
The most popular route to Santiago is the French Way. This particular route starts at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrénées. The path then goes to the Spanish side of Roncesvalles before ending in Santiago. You do not have to worry about packing tons of necessities. The path goes through several cities, including Pamplona, Burgos and León. You do not want to pack too much anyway because it is a long trek to travel with such a heavy load. One thing you want to have is your pilgrim’s passport. Without it, you will not be able to stay in the various pilgrim hostels along the way.
When you reach Pamplona, you will have the chance to feast in one of many tapas bars for some original Spanish cuisine. Tapas are comprised of various appetizers. If you arrive between the 7th and 14th of July, you can experience the San Fermin Festival, commonly known as the running of the bulls. In Burgos, you will see some amazing architecture, including the Burgos cathedral, and two beautiful monasteries. The gothic León cathedral will greet you upon your arrival into León. There are various other historical buildings to mesmerize your senses. León also offers tapas but, unlike Pamplona, these tapas are free. You can satisfy your appetite with, among other things, cecina (cured beef) and botillo (cured pork).
When you reach Santiago, you will experience the services held daily at the cathedral. Known as the Pilgrim’s Mass, this is the chance for pilgrims to participate in communion, confession and, ultimately, forgiveness for all of their sins. Following the Way of St. James has become more than just a religious experience. Tourists from all over the world travel the various paths in search of their own, personal salvation. If you are on a pilgrimage, it does not matter why or where you start. It is often said that any path to Santiago is a pilgrim’s path.
August 23 2010 09:59 am | Uncategorized