El camino to santiago. Ricardo Zambrano

The Camino de Santiago, are actually several hiking routes that all lead to the town of Santiago de Compostela in northern spain. The Camino Frances is the most popular camino, starting in Saint Jean de Pied de Port in France, and ending up about 30 days later in the town of Santiago de Compostela.

The origins of the Camino de Santiago goes back one thousand years and it was an important christian pilgrimage route during the middle ages, all walking to seek forgiveness from St James. It is though that the remains of the apostle saint james is buried in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. From around 813 with the discovery of the relics of the apostle and with the consent of Charlemagne, who wanted to defend their borders from the Arab invasions, Compostela will progressively become a pilgrimage center to receive their final push in the first half of the twelfth century . Soon the news spread throughout Christian Europe and the pilgrims begin to arrive at the grave, called Campus Stellae that degenerate in Compostela term.

In modern times pilgrims walk it for many reasons, not only religious, and to be a pilgrim has changed its meaning. What attracts people to the camino de santiago today, I think, is the mix of adventure, seeing spain and its culture and the camaraderie that builds up over several weeks of walking. Pilgrims that walk come from all over the world and that creates a great environment. 

The routes have public alberuges in almost every town at the end of each stage. These public alberges charges a low fee and gives you a shower and a place to sleep. This is usually beds in rooms with ten or twenty other pilgrims.