Scallop, St.James' shell, symbol of the Saint and the pilgrimage
The Way of St James, or St James' Way, often known by its Spanish name the Camino de Santiago, is the pilgrimage to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in north-westernmost Spain where the apostle SaintJames the Great is said to be laid to rest.
Pilgrims would walk the Way of St. James for months to arrive finally at the great church in the main square to pay homage, and so many pilgrims have laid their hands on the pillar just inside the doorway to rest their weary bones, that a groove has been worn in the stone.
James, apostle of Christ, also known as Boanerges (Son of Thunder), came to Spain to spread the gospel, and it is said that during his stay there, the Virgin appeared to him on the banks of the River Ebro.
Saints, kings, knights, burghers, artisans and peasants travelled to Compostela, with or without an entourage, on foot or on horseback.
Paths of piety and culture, the various routes which made up the Ways of St. James played a decisive role in the formation of a pan-European spirit through the exchange of different ways of life, thought, languages and crafts.
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