Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago is the famous walk across Northern Spain, which you may have heard described as a pilgrimage. Originally, the Camino de Santiago was a pilgrimage (to a cathedral in Galicia, Spain); today, backpackers galore plus pilgrims and folks from all walks of life walk the Camino de Santiago for reasons of their own: it's a spiritual journey, ending in one's heart (and in Northwest Spain).

• What is the Camino de Santiago and Santiago de Compostela?

Many ancient routes make up the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) to come together at the alleged tomb of St. James (which is Santiago in Spanish), a Christian apostle, in the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela in Northwest Spain. Most crowded and most popular is the Camino Francés route; that route covers almost 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) from a common pilgrimage starting point in St. Jean-Pied-du-Port (near Biarritz, France) to Galicia. About.com's Spain Travel Guide, Damian Corrigan, is walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela for 18 days in the spring of 2009 -- follow along on Damian's blog to learn more first hand about what walking the Camino de Santiago is like:

• About.com Spain Blog

Learn more about the Camino de Santiageo de Compostela:

• Camino de Santiago de Compostela Routes
• When to do the Camino de Santiago de Compostela
• Resources for Walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela