| The quite long and seemingly complicated process that | | | | recognized Santiago de Compostela as a world |
| modern day Spain has had to go through to get to | | | | heritage site and this has further added to the |
| where it is today has left it with a very affluent and | | | | attraction of the way of St. James and Santiago as |
| varied heritage . | | | | one of the world's largest pilgrimages. |
| As you travel around the country you can see | | | | The combination of Santiago de Compostela and the |
| glimpses of a past affluent in the heritage of former | | | | Way of St. James has become so successful and |
| conquerors be they the Moors, medieval Spaniards | | | | quite frankly so massive that an entire tourism sub |
| themselves or parts of the country that have Jewish | | | | industry has grown up alongside it.there are a number |
| and other international flavours. | | | | of starting off points for the Camino or Way of St. |
| There are numerous pilgrimage routes to be found | | | | James, the most common of which are probably the |
| throughout Spain as would be fit a country that has | | | | English, the French or Spanish routes. Of these three |
| had such an influence brought upon it by organized | | | | the most frequented as far as pilgrims and travellers |
| faith . | | | | are concerned is probably the French and there are a |
| The way of St. James otherwise known as the | | | | number of routes which originate throughout France |
| Camino de Santiago is possibly the most famous of all | | | | but all come to converge upon the town of |
| of these routes. Interest in the Way of St. James | | | | Roncesvalles. |
| arose in the ninth century when the remains of St. | | | | Nowadays unless you happen to be a completely |
| James were allegedly discovered. As a result in the | | | | devout, fervent and ardent pilgrim it is unlikely that you |
| centuriess ensuing, pilgrims from around the world | | | | would travel the entire 760 common to route from |
| have flocked to this route to have the chance to walk | | | | Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela. Those who |
| along the route to pay tribute to the apostle St. James. | | | | do manage the entire route claim that the hardship and |
| Interest in this particular route has been extremely | | | | suffering that they go through stands him in good |
| popular over the years but also there have been times | | | | stead for being able to appreciate the whole |
| when it has not been so popular. Probably the one | | | | experience once they get to Santiago. |
| time in history that this route was least popular was | | | | An informal system of yellow arrows has grown up |
| during the 16th and 17th centuries. It was on the | | | | over the years and these are placed strategically at |
| instructions of one of the Popes of the day that | | | | key points throughout the entire journey to make sure |
| apparently prisoners were told that they could seek | | | | the pilgrims and travellers don't get lost. Whether or not |
| penance for former misdemeanours by walking the | | | | this is a reflection upon the state and condition that |
| Way of St James. | | | | pilgrims were arriving at Santiago at the end of the |
| From a position of declining and waning interest in the | | | | journey but this system of yellow markers was |
| way of St. James in the late 20th century quite a | | | | credited to Father Elias Valdinha who wanted to make |
| significant revival has occurred in interest for this | | | | sure that pilgrims arrived at the end of the journey in |
| pilgrimage route and part of the reason for this revival | | | | reasonable condition. |
| may well be attributable to the fact that the United | | | | A considerate man. |
| Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation | | | | |