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A widely popular summer activity is to set off on a pilgrimage, journeying on the Road of Santiago. This route, normally done on foot, runs thru the North of the Iberian Peninsula, from the Pyrenees mountains to the city of Santiago de Compostela. The road runs along the North half of Spain: Aragon, Navarra, Rioja, Castilla and Galicia. This road brings Europe together in more than 700 Kms until reaching Santiago, or “the end of the world” (“Finisterra” in latin) as it was thought back in the Medieval Age.

Today, the road to Santiago is the path that thousands chose to journey in throughout the course of the year. Many of them walk, others ride bikes, and some in other random modes of transportation. In the end, each has his own particular way of traveling. Even though there’s a heterogenous mix of people and different motivations, the road to Santiago keeps providing the pilgrims a sense of inner accomplishment the moment in which they reach their objective or final destination. For most, to arrive in Santiago de Compostela on July 25, the city where the apostle Santiago is buried, supposes an indescribable and inmense happiness. In over 1,000 years, this feeling has been felt by the many people that have enjoyed the trip. The reason is that it coincides with the ‘Feast of Santiago’ and at the same time a second national holiday being that Santiago is the patron saint of the nation.

Even though there are 7 different “Xacobeo” roads that lead to Santiago, the most widely used is one known as the French Path. This road accesses Spain thru Roncesvalles Crossings (in the Navarran Pyreenes) and by Somport (in the Aragonian Pyrenees). Both ways lead the traveling pilgrim into Spain, reaching Santiago de Compostela after traveling 700 Kms.

The Road to Santiago started out as a religious pilgrimage in which many devout Christians and people seeking penance went in search of Santiago in the hopes of attaining soul purification, pardons for their committed sins and to be in what seemed close worldly proximity to God. Nowadays, religious believers make the journey along with hill-trekkers and other travellers. All individual groups or family, seek toward enjoying nature, the beauty of the villages they stumble upon and the pleasurable company of strangers that are met along the way.

The richness of the Road to Santiago is based principally on the natural and cultural diversity that one finds among the path.

One can enjoy the scenery of the Pyrenees, the highest mountain range in the country. These mountain ranges have an altitude of 3,400 meters. Descending to lower and flatter lands, coming across incredible beech and oak tree forests, the traveler can enjoy authenthic jewels of romanesque art, churches and smaller chapels that can date back to the X century.

When the road reaches the lower plateau, the scenery changes and becomes arid. Even though Aragon and La Rioja are profitable agricultural lands, the soil’s redder shade differentiates these 2 from other regions. The vineyards of Navarra and La Rioja offer a gastronomic alternative that very few people dare to turn down.

The travel path thru Castilla is enhanced by the presence of castles and medieval fortifications. The pilgrim’s knowledge and visual perspective is enriched by the many cathedrals, convents and churches of the local towns that are found along the way. The cathedral of Burgos and Leon or that of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, the churches of San Martin de Fromista or the Palacio de Gaudi in Astorga are part of the architectural richness of the Castilian-Leonese part of the road. Lost strength can be re-gained in any of the towns along Leon’s path by eating out of the best Botillo Leones (a world class stew) accompanied by local Bierzo wine, which grows in value every day.

The last stretch of the French Path is carried out in Galicia. The lush, green vegetation accompanies the traveler as it makes its way thru the region. The rugged terrain, makes this last leg of the journey seem like a hard one, especially if one has travelled from very far away. But the closeness of Santiago de Compostela, the typical green and humid Spanish landscape persists in inspiring the weary traveler to finish the journey. The Plaza del Obradoiro, in Santiago de Compostela, welcomes all the pilgrims who have reached their goal. Their reward is of joyous happiness for those who have made it.

The French path (665 Kms.):
  • In Navarra: Cunea, Mañeru, Cirauqui, Lorca, Villatuerta, Noveleta, Zarapuz, Estella, Ayergui, Irache, Azqueta, Villamayor de Monjardín, Villamayor, Urbiola, Luquín, Los Arcos, Sansol, Torres del Río y Viana;
  • In La Rioja: Logroño, Fuenmayor, Navarrete, Nájera, Azofra, Ciriñuela, Hervías, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Grañón;
  • In Burgos: Redecilla del Camino, Castildegado, Vitoria de Rioja, Villamayor del Río, Belorado, Tosantos, Villabistia, Espinosa del Camino, Villafranca Montes de Oca, Alto de Pedraja, San Juan de Ortega, Agés, Barrios de C., Atapuerca, Olmos de Atapuerca, Ibeas de Juarros, Cardeñuela, Orbaneja, Rubena, Castañares, Villafría, Villayuda, Gamonal, Burgos, Villalbilla de Burgós, Tardajos, Rabé de las Calzadas, Hornillos del Camino, San Boal, Hontanas, Ruinas de San Antón, Castrogeriz, Itero del Castillo, Puente Fitero;
  • In Palencia: Itero de la Vega, Boadilla del Camino, Frómista, Población de Campos, Revenga de Campos, Villovieco, Villarmentero de Campos, Villalcazar de Sirga, Carrión de los Condes, Santa María de Benevívere, Calzadilla de la Cueza, Santa María de las Tiendas, Lédigos, Terradillo de los Templarios, Moratinos, San Nicolás del Real Camino;
  • In Leon: Sahagún, Calzada del Coto, Bercianos del Real Camino, Calzadilla de los Hermanos, El Burgo Ranero, Villamarco, Reniegos, Mansilla de las Mulas, Villamoros de Mansilla, Villarente, Arcahuela, Valdelafuente, Puente Castro, León, Trobajo del Camino, La Virgen del Camino, Fresno del Campo, Oncina de la V., Valverde, San Miguel del Camino, Chozas de Abajo, Villar de Matarife, Villadango del Páramo, La Milla del Páramo, San Martín del Camino, Villavante, Puente Órbigo, Hospital de Órbigo, Villares de Olmo, Santibáñez de Valdeiglesias, San Justo de la Vega, Astorga, Valdeviejas, Murias de Rechivaldo, Castrillo de Polvazares, Santa Catalina de Somoza, El Ganso, Tabacal del Camino, Foncebadón, Cruz de Ferro, Manjarín, El Acebo, Riego de Ambrós, Molinaseca, Campo, Ponferrada, Compostilla, Columbrianos, Cuatrovientos, Fuentes Nuevas, Camponaraya, Cacauelos, Pieros, Villafranca del Bierzo, Pereje, Trabadelo, La Portela de Valcarce, Ambasmestas, Vega de Valcarce, Ruitelán, Herrerías, La Faba, Laguan de Castilla;
  • In Lugo: El Cebreiro, Liñares, Hospital de la Condesa, Alto del Poio, Biduedo, Triacastela, San Gial, Samos, Calvor, Aguiada, Sarria, Fonte, Barbadelo, Rente, Barreiros, Pena, Ferreiros, Miralles, Cortes, Portomarín, Gonzar, Castromayor, Hospital da Cruz, Ventas de Narón, Ligonde, Eirexe, Lestedo, Casas Revoleas, Palas de Rey, San Julián, Mato Casanova
  • In La Coruña: Leboreiro, Furelos, Melide, Santa María de Melide, Bonete, Castañeda, Ribadiso, Arzúa, Calle, Salceda, Empalme, Santa Irene, Rúa, Burgo, Arca, Amenal, Lavacolla, San Xordo, San Marcos, Monte del Gozo, San Lázaro, Santiago de Compostela.
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