The road across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela in the northwest was one of the three major Christian pilgrimage routes during the Middle Ages, leading pilgrims to the resting place of the Apostle St. James. Today, the system of trails and roads that made up the old pilgrimage route is the most popular long-distance trail in Europe, winding from the heights of the Pyrenees to the gently rolling fields and woods of Galicia. Hundreds of thousands of modern-day pilgrims, art lovers, ...

When Iberian Jews were converted to Catholicism under duress during the Inquisition, many struggled to retain their Jewish identity in private while projecting Christian conformity in the public sphere. To root out these heretics, the courts of the Inquisition published checklists of koshering practices and "grilled" the servants, neighbors, and even the children of those suspected of practicing their religion at home.From these testimonies and other primary sources, Gitlitz & David...

In Grandmas On the Camino, author Mary OHara Wyman, a 72 year old grandmother from San Francisco, relates her 2010 adventures walking 500 miles alone as a pilgrim on the Camino Frances. Her journey takes her from St. Jean Pied de Port in France, across the Pyrenees to Spain, then westward to the ancient spiritual destination of Santiago de Compostela. Through back-home reflections based on journal entries and postcards sent to her grand daughter, Mary describes engaging encounters with pil...

After completing 1400 kilometres of walking two different Caminos in Spain and in Portugal, I knew I had to share my love of these journeys through a book. I have never written a book before this one. I have attempted many, but the inspiration was never as intense as now. There are so many books about the Camino that one would wonder why another one is necessary. All the books I could get my hands on regarding this subject were written about the authors personal journey or were written str...

This is the 2026 edition. Fully updated in autumn 2025.A practical, no-nonsense guide to walking the Camino de Santiago (Camino Francés) with information about pilgrim hostels and services plus lots of background information about the history, culture and architecture of the places you will pass through.It covers the Camino from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela and onwards to the coast at Finisterre and Muxia.This g...

Fully revised and updated in May 2026.This book is intended for people planning to walk a Camino for the first time. It contains detailed, practical, impartial information and advice to help you prepare. It is based on the author's personal experience gained over nearly twenty years walking Caminos and on the experiences of many other pilgrims.The following topics are covered in detail:Which Camino? - which Camino is best for a firs...

"Love this book! My Bible for the El Camino..."The classic book used by thousands to learn what you should take on a Camino journey.Includes:Pros & Cons for difficult gear choices (poncho or rain jacket? water bottles or pack hydration system? sleeping bag or sleeping sheet?)A "skin-out" (everything!) pack list with the weight of each itemExperienced backpacker tips show you how to create a light...

What do you like most when reading about adventures: descriptions about the terrain, the culture, the challenges, the personal growth, the interactions between other adventures? Women of the Way: Embracing the Camino successfully combines all these elements in a heartfelt and personal recounting of Jane V. Blanchard’s 2011 five-hundred mile pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago—hiking from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France over the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles in Spain, and then westward across no...

Fat, 59, fortified daily by red wine and challenged by my husband, I start a mildly epic adventure. This book is part autobiography, part travel guide, an honest but tongue in cheek record of my Camino. It lists distances, places to stay and to avoid, what to take, degree of difficulty and ultimately proves anybody can do it.I want to inspire you to take the first step on your own adventure.

The experiences of an ordinary man on the pilgrim’s path are charted in this narrative that walks along the Camino Francés to the shrine of Saint James at Santiago de Compostela and then on to Finisterre, the westernmost point of Spain. The history of the Camino is recounted, as well as several of the myths, legends, and miracle stories that have become attached--and given special meaning--to this itinerary. Emphasizing that personal myths are an essential part of this lore, this chronicle...

William S. Schmidt is an associate professor of the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago. He is the author of two books and numerous articles in the fi elds of counseling and spirituality. He is the editor of the Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health published by Taylor and Francis.

The Camino de Santiago is a walk across northern Spain. No one is quite sure of its origins which predate the Christian era. Today the majority of walkers are Catholics who regard it as a pilgrimage which is the main reason why it attracts people from all over the world.The minority are a mixed bag of people who follow other religions and some with no set beliefs which includes the author. Historically the Camino has been walked by a spectrum ranging from Kings and Generals to pett...