Santiago de Compostela – a sacred place and a path marked with shells

When we think of long-distance pilgrimage routes, Rome is the usual destination that comes to mind. Then what makes nearly 500,000 pilgrims each year choose to travel not to the Holy See, but to the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela?

The answer to this, as tradition has it, is the place of burial of St. James the Greater, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. His tomb is where thousands of pilgrims travel from around the world to experience this unique journey that not only takes them to a sacred place, but into the deepest parts of their souls.

Camino de Santiago

The Spanish Camino de Santiago, meaning ‘the Way of St. James’, is a system of trails mapped out across many European countries that eventually lead pilgrims to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. The first records of the religious cult of this place are dated back to the 9th century, giving over a thousand years of pilgrimage tradition associated with the tomb of St. James. With such a long and rich history, Camino was declared the first European Cultural Route in October 1987 and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993. In the 1980s, the trail underwent renovation and markings were improved, making navigating the route much easier.

Camino: a cultural phenomenon and a travel trend

The Way of St James has evolved beyond a traditional pilgrimage to become a global cultural and tourism phenomenon. In an era of growing popularity of slow travel and the desire to disconnect from technology, the route offers a unique experience of ‘living on the road’ – slowly, immersed in a diverse culture, nature and your own thoughts. In recent decades, the trail has gained recognition through numerous books, films and social media posts describing this experience. While on the route, it is common to come across specific Spanish terms associated with the Camino. To quote a few, albergue means pilgrim hostel, credencial is a pilgrim’s passport attesting to the journey, and the word botafumeiro, which comes from Galician, describes the famous huge thurible in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.

How did a shell become a symbol of the Way of St. James?

Since the Middle Ages, a great scallop shell has served as the confirmation of completion of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Such shells could be easily found not far from the route, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. As the symbol became iconic among the pilgrims, nowadays yellow shells against a blue background can be spotted on building facades, concrete poles, road signs and many other places along the Camino de Santiago trails. They are often accompanied by yellow arrows that show the direction of the pilgrimage.

How long is the Way of St. James?

There is no single answer to this question, as Camino de Santiago consists of many different routes spread throughout Europe. The most popular one, Camino Francés, is about 800 km long and begins in France. However, your journey may start in Poland, at the doorstep of your home, and continue along the marked routes. It is up to the pilgrim to decide which one to follow, how much time the journey will take up, and what will be their motivation for the pilgrimage.

Santiago de Compostela

It is almost impossible to describe the joy pilgrims feel upon seeing the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela after their long journey. The church first welcomed believers in the 9th century; its construction was commissioned after the discovery of a tomb considered to be the burial place of St. James the Greater. The building owes its current form to numerous extensions and renovations to keep up with changing architectural trends in Spain. Both the cathedral and the old town are included on the UNESCO list.

For many people, this extraordinary trip to the sunny Spain along the trail marked with yellow shells is not only a special testimony of faith, but also a journey into their souls. For this reason, not only Christians go on this adventure, but also those who are fascinated by Camino, willing to take up a challenge, seeking a way to connect with nature or an opportunity to meet new people. Who knows, maybe the trail is waiting for you as well?