The road across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela in the northwest was one of the three major Christian pilgrimage routes during the Middle Ages, leading pilgrims to the resting place of the Apostle St. James. Today, the system of trails and roads that made up the old pilgrimage route is the most popular long-distance trail in Europe, winding from the heights of the Pyrenees to the gently rolling fields and woods of Galicia. Hundreds of thousands of modern-day pilgrims, art lovers, historians, and adventurers retrace the road today, traveling through a stunningly varied landscape which contains some of the most extraordinary art and architecture in the western world. For any visitor, the Road to Santiago is a treasure trove of historical sites, rustic Spanish villages, churches and cathedrals, and religious art. To fully appreciate the riches of this unique route, look no further than The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago, a fascinating step-by-step guide to the cultural history of the Road for pilgrims, hikers, and armchair travelers alike. Organized geographically, the book covers aspects of the terrain, places of interest, history, artistic monuments, and each town and village's historical relationship to the pilgrimage. The authors have led five student treks along the Road, studying the art, architecture, and cultural sites of the pilgrimage road from southern France to Compostela. Their lectures, based on twenty-five years of pilgrimage scholarship and fieldwork, were the starting point for this handbook.

Over 1,200 years old, 500 miles long, and rich with tradition and sacred history: Embark on the trip of a lifetime with Moon Camino de Santiago. Inside you'll find: Strategic trekking guides for walking the Camino, including where to start to get the Compostela certificate and excursions to gateway cities like Santiago, Léon, and Pamplona Unique ideas for enriching your experience: Admire folkloric art and Romanesque churches, stroll through the stone archways and winding alleys of medieval cities, and soak up mountain views as you cross over the Pyrenees and descend into green valleys. See the archaeological site where Europe's oldest humans were uncovered and breathe in the salty ocean air as you finish your journey at the shores of the Atlantic Savor the local flavors: Enjoy authentic jamón serrano, tapas, and Galician wine, or grab fresh cheese and bread for a picnic lunch The best detours, festivals, and villages along the way: Linger in Estella, witness the running of the bulls in Pamplona, visit the monastery in Nájera, or sip wine in Cacabelos Essential planning information on when to go, how to get there, where to eat, and where to stay, from pilgrim dorms to private hotels, plus tips on hazards, precautions, and gear Valuable insighton the history and context of the pilgrimage from expert Beebe Bahrami, who has walked the Camino many times since 1995 Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout, plus a handy fold-out map of the entire route Thorough background information on the sacred sites and history of the Camino, as well as the landscape, culture, and local etiquette Handy tools including Spanish and French phrasebooks, visa information, volunteer opportunities, and tips for seniors, women traveling alone, religious and secular travelers, and LGBTQ travelers Start your transformative journey with the expert insight, unique suggestions, and practical advice of Moon Camino de Santiago.

People go on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage for a variety of reasons: religious, midlife crisis, a need for adventure or miracle, to visit Hemingways 1920s hangouts, to pay homage to Saint James . . . Author Jean Mitchell-Lanham went for all the same reasons, and then her academic and literary interests set her off on a secondary journey to dig deeper into the mysteries and timeless draw of the pilgrimage.

They were long-shot underdogs and if they were to survive, they needed a miracle.The armies of Islam had swept like wildfire into the Iberia peninsula. By the beginning of the 9th century, King Alfonso's Kingdom of Asturias was one of a couple of enclaves of Christianity remaining in Espania. It was the year 814 and King Alfonso II had just received word that Charlemagne, the Frankish conqueror and protector of the Catholic Church, was dead. Alfonso's small northern kingdom was no match for the Caliphate of Cordoba which had orchestrated a vast economic revival known as the Andalusian Enlightenment in the south. The sophisticated Arabs minted silver coins, printed paper, read poetry, funded massive libraries, reconfigured the old Roman trading routes and created a far reaching Islamic legal system. The armies of Islam were large, disciplined and well-armed.By contrast, King Alfonso's kingdom was a land of small farms with little in the way of urban culture, learning, industry or secular institutions. His people were resigned to a meager subsistence economy based on agriculture, fishing and herding. The standing army was small, but the men of Asturias were excellent horsemen and skilled at "hit and run" mountain warfare. The miracle they sought arrived with the news that the beheaded body of Saint James the Apostle was found by a wandering hermit in a Roman cemetery in Galicia. Alfonso's kingdom might now have the powerful protection of a patron saint. The local Catholic bishop asked King Alfonso to make a pilgrimage to the burial site to confirm the identity of the body and to grant royal protection to the shrine that would be built there. In time, the place would become the holy city of Santiago de Compostela and the path to it would be known as the Camino.This is the story of the first pilgrimage.Accompanying King Alfonso is his Benedictine confessor Father Julian who foresees how Saint James would unite the Christian kingdoms and help to drive the Moors out of Spain. Musa is Alfonso's foreign minister, born to an Arab father and a Jewish mother - he is a worldly traveler and is married to Doctor Ruth, a skilled herbalist and physician. All four characters are transformed by the inner journey of their spiritual pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. But Musa is skeptical about the beheaded body that was found in an unmarked grave with no clues left behind to identify it. If it is not the remains of Saint James, then who is buried in the grave?The First Pilgrim is an account of the aspirations of a nation, the determination of its King and the faith of its people. It is also a medieval detective mystery.

I'm Off Then has sold more than three million copies in Germany and has been translated into eleven languages. The number of pilgrims along the Camino has increased by 20 percent since the book was published. Hape Kerkeling's spiritual journey has struck a chord. Overweight, overworked, and disenchanted, Kerkeling was an unlikely candidate to make the arduous pilgrimage across the Pyrenees to the Spanish shrine of St. James, a 1,200-year-old journey undertaken by nearly 100,000 people every year. But he decided to get off the couch and do it anyway. Lonely and searching for meaning along the way, he began the journal that turned into this utterly frank, engaging book. Filled with unforgettable characters, historic landscapes, and Kerkeling's self-deprecating humor, I'm Off Then is an inspiring travelogue, a publishing phenomenon, and a spiritual journey unlike any other.

The experiences of an ordinary man on the pilgrim’s path are charted in this narrative that walks along the Camino Francés to the shrine of Saint James at Santiago de Compostela and then on to Finisterre, the westernmost point of Spain. The history of the Camino is recounted, as well as several of the myths, legends, and miracle stories that have become attached--and given special meaning--to this itinerary. Emphasizing that personal myths are an essential part of this lore, this chronicle also includes stories from the confraternity of the pilgrims, people from all corners of the world who visit this walk for a great diversity of reasons, but all of whom leave having experienced the same miracle--that this pilgrimage will play a defining role in their lives.