Road to Santiago (St. James’s Way)

Road to Santiago (St. James’s Way)

Road to Santiago is one of the most popular tourist routes. Hundreds of thousands of tourists craving for new knowledge, impressions and discoveries, pass this road every year. So, what is the Road to Santiago and what makes is so attractive to the travelers?
The story of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela starts as far back as in 813, when a monk-hermit Pelayo found the remains of Saint James – the patron of Spain who protected its people in the battles. In 899, Alfonso III ordered to build here a small church. The believers from all over the world started to visit this place.

The Road to Santiago includes many picturesque places along the green coasts of Spain. Incredibly beautiful and spectacular views (boundless mountains, seas, harbors and Atlantic Ocean) encourage the pilgrim to pass this route from beginning to end.

Besides, at the moment there are many variations of passing the Road. One of the most popular options is the northern route, starting at the Santiago bridge at French border, in the city of Hendaya. At the starting line, you will find a special identification mark – yellow shell that will accompany you throughout your route. Firstly, you can see on it on the “albergas” (the shelters for pyligrims, where you can stay at reasonable cost). Secondly, many tourists hang the shell on their clothes or backpacks, thereby showing that they pass the Road to Santiago. The next points of the route are Basque country – Cantabria – Asturias and Galicia. The northern route is notable for the fact that passing it you can visit the other holy places- for example, the remains of St Faith, Mary Magdalene, etc.) You can overcome the Road to Santiago in any convenient way – by bicycle, bike, on foot, etc.
The most famous personalities that overcame the Road to Santiago are Elías Valiña Sampedro – the founder of the modern mass pilgrimage and tourism in St. James’s Way and the author Paulo Coelho, who in 1987 wrote the book “Piligrimage”, devoted to his journey. It caused a real boom among pilgrims and made both the author and the Road to Santiago really popular.
At the beginning of your journey, you must buy the passport of pilgrim (which costs 1-2 euro) to save on the sleepover in “albergas” and have free access to all attractions. This passport has a stamp, indicating that you really pass the Road to Santiago. On the basis of those documents, at the end of the road you will get a so-called “compostela” – certificate of pilgrimage and absolution.
If you want to start the Road to Santiago, order our excursion. We will make your journey even more exciting and unforgettable!