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