The Camino de Santiago trek, also known as the Way of St James, is an entwining network of pilgrimage routes leading to the shrine of the apostle St James the Great in the stunning cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. This historic pilgrimage has drawn millions of people from around the world for over a millennium, each taking the journey for spiritual, cultural or recreational reasons.

So who was St James and why do thousands of people a year make this epic pilgrimage?

Who Was St James?

St James the Great was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and is traditionally considered the first apostle to be martyred. According to the New Testament, he was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I of Judea around 44 AD, making him the first apostle to die for his faith (Acts 12:1-2). His martyrdom was a significant event in the early Christian community, underscoring the peril that the apostles faced as they spread the teachings of Jesus.

The Journey to Spain

After his martyrdom, the story of St James takes a mystical turn. According to legend, his disciples transported his body to the Iberian Peninsula, where he had previously preached. There, they buried him in what is now Santiago de Compostela. This miraculous journey is shrouded in myth, with tales of angels guiding the boat and miraculous events ensuring the safe passage of his remains.

The Discovery of His Tomb

Centuries later, in the early 9th century, a hermit named Pelagius discovered a tomb in a field in Galicia, led by a guiding star. The bishop of Iria Flavia, Theodomir, declared that this was indeed the tomb of St James. The site was called Campus Stellae, meaning "field of stars," which evolved into Compostela. King Alfonso II of Asturias and Galicia ordered the construction of a modest church on the site, which over time grew into the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

The Rise of the Pilgrimage

News of the discovery spread rapidly and Santiago de Compostela quickly became one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in medieval Christendom, rivalling Jerusalem and Rome. Pilgrims from all over Europe undertook the arduous Camino journey to visit the apostle's relics, seeking spiritual merit, penance or miraculous cures.

St James and the Symbolism of the Camino

St James is often depicted as a pilgrim himself, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, carrying a staff and bearing the scallop shell, which has become the symbol of the Camino. The scallop shell, found on the Galician coast, serves as a metaphor for the pilgrimage: its grooves represent the many paths pilgrims travel from all corners of Europe, all leading to a single point—Santiago de Compostela.

Modern-Day Relevance

Today, the Camino de Santiago continues to attract hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year. While many undertake the journey for religious reasons, others are drawn by the historical significance, the physical challenge or the opportunity for personal reflection and growth.

The Routes to Santiago de Compostela

The Camino de Santiago walk is not just a single path but a network of routes. The most famous of these is the French Way (Camino Francés), starting in St Jean-Pied-de-Port in France and crossing the Pyrenees into Spain. Other routes include the Portugese Way (Camino Portugués), starting from Lisbon. Both routes allow pilgrims to join at various points along the way, with a minimum distance of 100km required to earn the coveted pilgrimage certificate.

For whatever reason you undertake the Camino de Santiago trek, whether it’s religious or not, you can’t help but get swept up by the history and heritage of this ancient trail and the man behind it all, St James.