One of the main problems of traveling in the Middle- Ages was river-crossing. The Way of St. James, one of the most widely used routes of the time, was not free from this difficulty. It was crossed by many rivers, some of which were very wide and difficult to be...
Through the testimony of pilgrims from other centuries we can reconstruct the town of Sarria as it was throughout its history. Thanks to their stories we know the central importance of its fortress, its convent and the bridge that allowed pilgrims to pass through to...
As we announced in a first introductory text (https://www.fundacionjacobea.org/en/santiago-of-compostela/the-book-of-santiago-introduction-to-the-codex-calixtinus/), we wish to devote our attention to studying the Calixtinus Codex (Liber Sancti Jacobi) in depth,...
Domenico Laffi was an Italian clergyman originally from the 17th century city of Bologna, a pilgrim to Compostela on several occasions and the author of an extraordinary account of his pilgrimages published and republished numerous times over the centuries. Through...
The shell, as an emblem of pilgrimage, "signum peregrinorum", has been in use since at least the twelfth century, but despite other pagan and Christian uses throughout the centuries, it began to develop enormously in the medieval period as a heraldic element, a...
The Calixtino Codex (Codex Calixtinus) is an extraordinary compilation made up of documents, scores and miniatures of great value, a compendium of Jacobean culture, the history of the Apostle Santiago, his worship and pilgrimage. In the words of Klaus Herbers, it...
Egeria, also called Eteria, Ætheria or Etheria, was a Galician pilgrim, traveller and writer from the 4th century. The importance of this historical figure is enormous, since she is the first pilgrim and traveller that we know of, as well as being the first known...
The first text referring to the fact that the apostle James had been buried in Spain is the "Breviary of the Apostles." The text also refers to the "Arca Marmórica", one of the essential elements of the legend of Santiago, that is to say, the fact that his body had...
On July 25th the celebration of the Apostle Santiago is celebrated, it is the day of Santiago el Mayor and many celebrate it ... but few know why! During the Middle Ages, the feast of Saint James meant a special day insofar as it recalled the Saint in the religious...
The legend and traditions created around Santiago are among the richest in the history of Christianity, but if we ignore those stories which were written centuries after his death, the actual knowledge we have about his life is very scarce. The best documented fact...
When considering the advantages and disadvantages of walking with a staff or stick or without it, we can affirm that yes, without a doubt the use of a staff or cane is recommended. But then we move on to another discussion: what to use? Traditional staff or hiking...