What It's All About

El Camino de Santiago, “The Way of Saint James,” refers to any pilgrimage route (and there are many) that ends at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela  in Northwestern Spain, where legend has it that the remains of Jesus’ apostle Saint James were buried.  The camino has existed as a Christian pilgrimage for well over 1,000 years.  In the medieval period it was one of the three most important Christian pilgrimages to be undertaken.  It was only these pilgrimages – to Jerusalem , to Rome and to Santiago de Compostela – which could result in a plenary indulgence which frees a person from the penance due for sins.  Legend has it that after Saint James was beheaded in Jerusalem his body was carried in a stone boat to the coast of Galicia, Spain.  His body was buried and forgotten until rediscovered in the 9th century and reburied in Compostela and in 1189 Santiago de Compostela was declared a Holy City. In 2013 we walked "the Way", formally known as the Camino Frances and this year we will attempt the Camino Norte.