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“Europe was born
from pilgrimage”
Goethe
The way of St. James is a museum of over 800 kilometers.
The pilgrimage of a thousand years have left a treasure of
Romanesque Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art along the
way to Compostela.
Why is it important?
 This pilgrimage is considered one of three pilgrimages on
which all sins could be forgiven - the others being Rome
and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
 Not only is this pilgrimage seen as a religious event, but
it’s also seen as a cultural, spiritual or touristic event
where people of all ages participate.
Walking el Camino
 For more than 1000 years
pilgrims have been walking
along the Camino de Santiago.
 It could take from 4-8 weeks of walking, an
average of20 miles/day in order to complete
the route.Generally the walk does involve an
average daily distances of about 14 -20 miles, but
it follows well marked paths with good surfaces.
We will provide a step by step guide to the
Walk and the location of our nightly
hostel-hotel. It is possible to have extra days
in Santiago at the end and have a rest day
during the journey. We would recommend
visiting Portomarin where you can
easily journey to the historic Roman city of Lugo.
Who travels to Santiago?
 In addition to people on a
religious pilgrimage there
are many travelers and
hikers who walk the route
for non-religious reasons
such as for enjoyment, travel,
sport or simply the challenge
of weeks of walking in a
foreign land and having the privilege of meeting people from
all over the world.
Routes to Santiago
 The Way of St James is a collection of old pilgrimage
routes which cover all Europe; they all have
Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain as
their final destination.
 The entire “camino” begins in France, and it’s about 800 km
long.
 Walking paths are always open.
 We would take a shortcut and start el Camino in León, which
still guarantees us the Compostela certificate since it is over
100 kilometers.
How to get there?
 Some pilgrims travel on horseback, by donkey,
by car, by plane, by train,
or by bicycle.
 The most popular and
rewarding way is to travel
by foot.
Certification
 People can be certificated
for having accomplished
such a long route.
 In order to be certificated,
you must walk at least 100
km or bike at least 200 km
of the route.
Stamps needed for your
certification
 The network of shelters along the way will stamp
your passport as evidence.
Planning
 A plan was elaborated to try to foresee all details, from the
stage of preparation until the trip itself.
 The biggest problem when considering the Camino to
Santiago is the amount of time required to walk it. Most of
our pilgrims should be able to walk the Camino in about
three weeks. We plan to walk early morning until noon.
We do not want to rush each day. We plan to walk 4 -5
hours and then find an albergue, rest or get to know the
city or village.
 It is the type of trip that "happens once in a life time,”
though many Pilgrims end up walking it more than once.
Mental Preparation
 Mental preparation: Why am I doing this? We would
ask interested students, faculty and staff to take time to
prepare a purpose for this pilgrimage. Start from the basis
that you are essentially a spiritual being on a human
journey, not a human being on a spiritual one.
Physical Preparation
 Physical preparation: Any reasonably fit person can
accomplish any of the way-marked caminos without
undue stress, but it is always advisable to put in some
physical training before the trip. Interested pilgrims
should start breaking their trekking shoes two months in
advance and walk with their backpacks with a 10 -14 lbs.
weight (or 10% of you total body weight) for at least two
hours daily in order to later avoid most common injuries,
such as strained tendons and blisters that normally occur
in the early days. It takes the body a few days to adjust to
the regular walking with full backpack.
Albergues ( Hostels)
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Lodging: they are plentiful on the route to Santiago, very clean and well taken care by religious orders.
They have common kitchen and separate sleeping quarters for men and women. Some albergues serve
breakfast. It is important to note that Spanish breakfast is very small. We need to complement it with fruit,
yogurt, and other protein food. To gain admittance to albergues or refugios (hostels) along the road, Pilgrims
must present a credential to prove that they are hiking or biking the road. Each day, as pilgrims pass through
towns, they will receive one, sometimes two, stamps in their credential
Please note that almost all the people that will greet you in an albergue are volunteers. This is their way of
giving back to the Camino de Santiago, please treat them with the respect they are due, without them the
Way of St James would be much more difficult for all.
The facilities vary greatly. Some albergues are warm and cozy, some are old school buildings that lack any
atmosphere, some have washing machines, and some do not. At times washing clothes will have to be done
by hand. Every albergue has hot showers. In most towns there will be a bar that serves the "Pilgrim menu",
this is usually cheaper, but with little choice, (about €7 to €10). A lot of abergues now have internet
connection.
The house rules vary - most will be open from 4pm and close in the evening at ten or eleven – and you need
to be beware of them because at some albergues they will lock you out. Some will wake you at 6:00 in the
morning and you will normally be out by 7:00 am. Pilgrims are allowed one night stay; unless medical
grounds force the person to rest (sore knees, feet, etc.)
The closer you come to Santiago, the busier the albergues are: patience is a requirement not an option. It is
an incredible experience, see it for what it is, a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
Money
 Taking three weeks out means organizing the money side
of things also. Walking the Camino de Santiago itself is
not expensive once you are there. I could quite easily live
on €25 per day. While in the Camino,in a period of three
weeks, less than €1000 is needed. The cost of albergues is
normally between €3 and €10. (Budget for a couple of
nights in a pension at some point, it is good to have a well
€20 to €30 rest per night per room). Pilgrim Menus are
affordable and they include a three course meal for about
to 7 to 10€. Buying a sandwich and fruit during the day is
very cheap. All albergues have washers and driers for a €3
fee.
Health and Emergency
 There are several medical facilities in each town plus an
emergency service we can call any time. We are inquiring
about insurance while in Spain similar to the one we
require for the Valladolid May term.
Safety
 In spite of the renowned safety of Camino de Santiago in
modern times, we plan to walk in groups and arrive in
villages or town before dark.
Getting to Leon
 Arriving to Madrid by plane. Flights: From April 2008 Ryanair fly direct to
Santiago from Liverpool. This supplements their popular daily flights from
London Stansted. Iberia's low cost airline clickair continues its flights direct
from London to La Corunna and Barcelona & Seville to Santiago.
Madrid-Leon by train;
From Leon to Santiago, the French route,but starting in Leon: León –
Astorga – Ponferrada and then they enter Galicia via O Cebreiro – Samos –
Sarria – Portomarín – Palas de Reis – Melide – Arzúa – Santiago de
Compostela.
 After Santiago de Compostela, pilgrims return to Leon or Madrid by train
All routes along the way are marked by a yellow arrow and the sea Shell
sign:
Packing List
 Trekking shoes (ankle high)or boots . This is the most important
thing you will need. Consider walking 20 kilometers a day. The
boots will be on your feet from six or seven in the morning until 12
or 1 in the afternoon,.
 Pilgrims should spend as much as possible on good well fitting
shoes/boots, they don't need to be water proof for summer walking,
leather boots are usually the best. Gore tex for summer time is not a
good idea as the boot keeps all the heat inside due to the dust
clogging up the fabric.
 Pilgrims should buy a light backpack not likely to fall apart before
three hard weeks use. Make sure your full backpack does not weigh
more than 10% of your body weight. Your backpack should sit on
your hips, the weight should not be on your shoulders, adjust the
straps.
 People that walked the Camino more than once have learned to take
as little as possible.
Packing Essentials
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Needle and thread - when you get a blister this will help. Thread the needle and run through the blister, leave
a bit of thread inside to drain the blister.
Two pairs of shorts, one for night other for day. (zip able long trousers are good)
1 T-shirt
1 shirt (light weigh, quick drying)
2 pairs of socks
2 pairs underwear
Rain gear - poncho is the best.
Fleece, it does get cold at night and the mornings can be chilly
Sandals for evenings
Pain-killers
Sunscreen, a must!
Sunglasses
Hat
Toiletries - keep it very light
Towel - get quick dry from outdoor store, they are also super light
Camera
Earplugs - too many people snore - loudly
Small lantern
Swiss army knife
Mosquito spray
Credit card/ATM card
Phone cards to call US can be bought very cheap in Spain
Other Things
 But there are others things that we would also consider, a
journal, a good book (exchange when finished at hostels).
The whole point of keeping your backpack light is to
make the journey more enjoyable, sore knees from
carrying too much is common.
History
 According to tradition, the Way of Saint James began in the
ninth century when, according to legend, the remains of Saint
James the Apostle were discovered in Libredón Forest, where
the city of Santiago de Compostela now stands, and where the
saint's relics are kept in the Cathedral. From these beginnings
the pilgrimage to Santiago became a driving force for
extraordinary spiritual, social, cultural and economic vitality. In
the course of its 1,200 years of history, it also became a symbol
of fraternity amongst different peoples and the corner stone and
focal point for an incipient, generalized global awareness of
Europe.
History II
The Way of Saint James was spawned by a religious-minded
society in the Middle Ages . Religious motivation lives on
today, although meeting other people, personal achievement and
integration with nature and art have also come to figure as
reasons to undertake the pilgrimage, which has become a mass
phenomenon of pilgrims and volunteers from the four corners
of the globe. One example of its popularity is that calculations
put the number of pilgrims that will have visited Santiago de
Compostela by the end of the Holy Year, at a record six million.
Improvement and maintenance of the 800 kilometers-long
Road, which for the most part crosses Spain and France, is the
work of thousands of volunteers and hospice wardens.
History III
 In 1987 the Council of Europe named the French Way as
First European Cultural Itinerary. In 1993, UNESCO
highlighted the importance and significance of the Way of
Saint James by declaring it part of Mankind's Cultural
Heritage. The Council of Europe confirmed its backing in
2004 by naming it a Primary European Cultural Itinerary,
stating that it demonstrated "the importance of man in
society and the ideas of freedom and justice. The Way of
Saint James is an opportunity for tolerance, learning and
solidarity, for dialogue and coming together.
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City and Cathedral
 In 997, The city along with the
church were destroyed by Almazor,
a Moorish military commander,
however he respected the Apostolic
tomb so much that he left it
undestroyed.
 Since the late 1980s St James Way has attracted a growing
number of modern-day pilgrims from all around the globe.
The Cathedral
Final goal destination!...
Monuments
 Entrance to Cathedral
St James’s remains…
Mass celebration at the end of
pilgrimage
Virtual Tour Cathedral of
Santiago
 http://www.catedraldesantiago.es/