The Camino de Santiago and its contemporary renewal: Pilgrims, tourists and territorial identities

Abstract

This article examines the features that characterise the renaissance of the Camino de Santiago in the late twentieth century. The Camino came into being as a major pilgrim's route in the Middle Ages, although, in later centuries, it saw long periods of neglect. Over the last few decades, this pilgrim's route has been adapted by a wide variety of public bodies that have embellished and renewed its heritage, a process shaped by numerous interests and reflecting a substantial diversity of ideologies and interplay of territorial identities. There has also been a resurgence in the number of pilgrims as a result of a militant effort favoured by the proliferation of Jacobean associations and studies. Pilgrims travel to Santiago on foot or by other means of transport that require the use of their own strength. A pilgrimage of this kind dovetails with the reasons for travelling: the search for unusual experiences, slow travel, contemplation of the landscape, learning about history and culture, and meeting new people. The final destination is the same as it has always been – the city of Santiago de Compostela, which was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985. Nevertheless, the experience of the Camino is currently associated with a multicultural and multireligious content.