The holy city


Santiago de Compostela is considered a holy city by the Catholics. It is a place where they can redeem all of their sins by praying and making a pilgrimage. Santiago de Compostela is not the only holy city of Catholics, there are two more: Jerusalem and Rome. You may ask why it is considered a holy city. Well, you need to learn about St. James in order to learn the answer to that question. St. James was an apostle of Jesus Christ, and according to the bible, he preached the word of God in Galcia, after Christ was crucified. Santiago (which translates to James in Spanish) was later killed by decapitation, but his remains were taken by his disciples at Galacia for them to be buried. His remains were authenticated in 813 by a Christian hermit.


Alphonso the Chaste (also know as King Alphonso II) started building a church right where the discovery was made. The apostole’s remains have attracted a large number of Christians and other visitors ever since.


In order to follow the Pilgrimage Way you will have to follow a few important routes:


The Northern Route, from the Basque country in Spain.


The French Way, entering Spain through the Pyrenees.


The Maritime Routes, used mainly by the pilgrims of Northern Europe. It also includes the English Way.


The Portuguese Way, between Oporto and Tui (a Galacian establishment).


The silver Routes.


The more ambitious and enthusiastic pilgrims often choose to hike the whole distance between the cities. We could compare the Pilgrimage Way of Saint James with the Appalachian Trail, offering absolution to the one that chooses to go through it. But, in order to gain the status of a religious pilgrim you do not need to follow this way precisely. All you need to do is go through the last hundred km of the journey by foot, or the last two hundred by bicycle or horse. You can go by sea as well, covering at least forty miles by boat and wallking the rest of the journey when you reach Port Pontecesures.


After you complete the pilgrimage at Santiago you will go through a ritual. You must enter the Praza do Obradoiro and then the cathedral, you must touch a pillar and bump your head to a sculpture while your are facing the portrayal of Saint James. By these gestures you show your faith and that you are embracing the Holy Apostole in your heart.

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