Why is santiago de compostela important to christians

James' relics were 'found', the first church was constructed in AD and within years Santiago de Compostela was attracting pilgrims from throughout Europe. By the twelfth century it had become the center of the greatest pilgrimage in medieval Europe. While Jerusalem and Rome were considered the two most important pilgrimage destinations for Christians, because Santiago de Compostela was closer and much safer to visit, it received far more visitors.

Four major land routes to Santiago developed over the centuries. Originating in northern France and meandering south through other pilgrimage sites, the routes joined, crossed the Pyrenees Mountains, and then headed to northwestern Spain. The Benedictines built monasteries and hostels to host the pilgrims journeying the routes to Santiago, creating what is perhaps the first major European tourist industry. The emotional appeal and morale boost provided by the cult of the saint swept through Europe as pilgrims journeyed to the 'Field of the Star' for centuries.

While most came as true believers, a large number came as a stipulation to inheritance, as an alternative to prison, or simply in hopes of doing a brisk trade with the great numbers of visitors. The photograph shows a stone sculpture of St. James in the garb of a wandering pilgrim.

The seashells fastened on his cloak were the badges of the medieval age, signifying a pilgrim's visit to the shrine of Santiago. The old city of Santiago de Compostela and its grand cathedral are among the most beautiful medieval artifacts in all of Europe.

Besides the visual beauty of the place, the atmosphere is charged with devotion and holiness. The institution of the Church may have resorted to some unscrupulous tactics in advertising the site yet the many millions of pilgrims who visited the shrine came with love and sincerity in their hearts.

The presence of that love is still strongly felt at Santiago de Compostela. While the Camino de Santiago is generally considered a Catholic pilgrimage to the tomb of the Apostle St.

Being esoteric in nature, its meaning —indeed its existence- lies hidden in place names and sacred sites, and in the trajectory of the Camino itself; it is also accessed through the signs and symbols used in art and architecture, through myth and legend, and by natural features. In order for these elements to speak, they must be considered alongside their associations with other traditions and varying aspects of medieval and esoteric thought and belief.

Here, we will briefly consider but some of the ideas and symbols that are associated with James to see, though this also but partially, where they might lead. I learned how to travel light, help other pilgrims and not damage or hurt anything along the way. Nevertheless, various Camino routes have been damaged by poorly planned or executed urban development that leave a large footprint on the landscape, including waste landfills and industrial areas.

In some cases, where the historic Camino has become a paved road with motorized traffic, developing an alternative route may be the appropriate option for restoration. Regional governments declared many natural areas along the Camino as protected areas, and there are a growing number of areas that aim to protect or restore places with both cultural heritage and natural values.

One such protected area is along the Atlantic coast in Cambria, where there have been five consecutive biosphere reserves established over nearby existing protected areas, mostly nature parks and national parks. Many regional laws have also been established to protect portions Camino de Santiago, its natural resources and its cultural heritage sites.

Today, these pathways are a special attraction because they cross areas of exceptional natural value. Since these secondary pathways cross several Spanish landscapes, the regional governments are developing projects to integrate the Camino de Santiago into natural-area protection schemes. Thus, agencies working to preserve natural resources are typically more interested in secondary paths, while the organizations focusing on cultural heritage protection focus on the main historical pathways.

American Pilgrims on the Camino. Mallarach, Josep M. WWF, Organization of World Heritage Cities. Still, you needn't be that energetic to earn full credit: To qualify as a religious or religious-cultural pilgrim, you merely need to cover the last km of your journey on foot, the last km by horse or bicycle, or at least 40 nautical miles by small boat plus a walk from the port of Pontecesures.

At the conclusion of your pilgrimage to Santiago, you'll follow a ritual that involves entering the cathedral usually from the Praza do Obradoiro, touching a marble pillar, bumping heads with a sculptured figure, facing the altar's image of St.

James, embracing the sculptured apostle from behind the altar, and descending to the crypt to view the silver box with the saint's remains. When you've accomplished these tasks, you can head for the Pilgrimage Office to obtain the Latin certificate known as "La Campostela. Just enter the parador and ask for the Pilgrims' Room. This gesture honors the parador's former role as a hostel for Catholic pilgrims. Fun facts: On a typical day, about pilgrims arrive in Santiago de Compostela on foot or horseback.

James--falls on a Sunday. Tip: The summer months attract the most pilgrims; spring and fall are good times to visit if you prefer to avoid crowds and don't mind shorter days or damp weather. Next page: Sightseeing and excursions. About Europe for Visitors. Minimum driver age is 18, there's no upper age limit, and rates include insurance.