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Way of St. James, the coastal route – Camino de Santiago, la ruta costera by Alberto Paredes
Tradition says that the body and head of St. James, after his execution circa. 44 AD, was taken by boat from Jerusalem to Galicia. Around 820, a hermit called Pelayo, who lived in the forest of Libredon, saw, over several nights, radiance and mysterious illuminations which looked like a rain of stars over a knoll in the forest. The shrine later had a cathedral built around it and has long been regarded as important as Rome and Jerusalem in terms of Christian religious significance, a site worthy to be a pilgrimage destination for over a thousand years. In addition to people undertaking a religious pilgrimage, there are many travellers and hikers who nowadays walk the route for non-religious reasons: travel, sport, or simply the challenge of weeks of walking in a foreign land. They can follow many routes but the most popular route is the French Way or Camino Francés. Historically, most of the pilgrims came from France, due to the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th century illuminated manuscript intended as an anthology of background detail and advice for pilgrims following the Way. But for then last years this route is a bit overcrowded, and many pilgrims start from Irun, close to the border with France, and cross the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia, always with the Cantabrian sea by their right side. This way is known as North or Coastal route. In the 9th century, pilgrims began following the Asturian-Galician ways in order to reach Santiago, since the Castilian plateau –which would be subsequently crossed by the French Way- was still occupied by the Moors. Itinerary: Basque Country: Irún – San Sebastian – Zarautz – Deba - Gernika – Bilbao Cantabria: Castro Urdiales - Laredo – Santander – Santillana – Comillas – San Vicente Asturias: Colombres - Llanes – Ribadesella – Gijón - Avilés – Soto de Luiña – Cadavedo - Luarca Galicia: Ribadeo – Mondoñedo – Vilalba – Lugo – Sobrado – Santiago The Way was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October 1987; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites in 1993. The Galician government seeks to make the route into a popular tourist destination. When there is a Holy Compostellan Year (whenever July 25 falls on a Sunday; the next will be 2010) the Galician government's Xacobeo tourism campaign is unleashed once more.
