Work started on the ancient Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in 1075, but by 1100 it had already become an important place for pilgrims. In this article we will paint a picture of the experience a medieval Christian would have had on arrival from their long and often dangerous journey.
This video shows you a view of the Botafumeiro in action like you’ve never seen before! What is the Botafumeiro? It’s a famous thurible in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This grand, massive object is used to burn incense for sacramental reasons and to give a nice smell to the Cathedral.
The Camino route is widely regarded as being very safe. However, there are always exceptions and it pays to be well prepared. From secret money belts to safety devices and general tips, these pointers are an essential read to those who want to play it safe!
The most important maps for anyone walking the Camino to Santiago de Compostela. General maps showing all possible routes down to individual maps focusing on the most common route, the Camino Francés, and the largest city maps.
Great video of a Spanish guy walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. He films it all using a portable GoPro camera. Filmed in 2014, it shows him eating with others along the way, walking through beautiful villages and jumping into a river.
Indulgences in the Roman Catholic Church are a special privilege given to those who fulfill certain criteria. They reduce the time that would have been spent in purgatory suffering for sins after death. In the middle ages the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela was encouraged by granting a plenary indulgence to those who made the journey and did certain things on arrival. Now we look in more depth at what indulgences are, their history, and most importantly how you can save yourself some time in purgatory!