Why is Santiago de Compostela important for Christians?

The Camino de Santiago is the third most important Christian pilgrimage site, after Jerusalem and Rome. Beneath the foundations of Santiago de Compostela lie what are believed to be the remains of James the Great. As one of the twelve apostles and the first to be martyred, his tomb has drawn pilgrims seeking reflection, forgiveness and spiritual renewal for over a thousand years.

The historian Denise Péricard-Méa has written widely about the meaning of Santiago de Compostela and the devotion to St James since the late Middle Ages, in works such as Compostelle 813-2013 and Les routes de Compostelle.

St James has also become a point of connection between walkers. Associations such as the Confraternity of Saint James in the UK and similar organisations across Europe bring together people from all walks of life to share advice, walk together and support those setting out on the trail for the first time.