Debra Kooy

284.6 km in 7 days of cycling the Coastal Camino from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Historical information about the Coastal Camino:

The Camino de Santiago was solely a Catholic pilgrimage for its first 1000+ years. Its pre-eminence and sanctity lie in the fact that it is
the burial place of the Apostle Saint James the Greater, who was one of Jesus Christ's 3 closest
apostles along with Saint John (his brother) and Saint Peter. The Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage rooted in medieval origins. The Camino de Santiago, or in English the Way of St
James, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle James in the
cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in
northwestern Spain, where tradition holds that the remains of the apostle are buried. It marks the end of the 790 kilometres
(490 miles) that make up the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route
Participants: pilgrims
UNESCO Site

Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) is located in Galicia, situated in the far north-west of Spain In the beginning of the 9th century, a hermit called Pelagius saw a mysterious light shining over a Roman tomb forgotten in the middle of a forest. Very soon, the incredible news spread all over the Christian world: the tomb of St. James the Greater, the beloved apostle of Jesus Christ, had been discovered in a far site near the finis terrae, the end of the known Earth, in the northwest of
Iberian Peninsula. A few years later, this site became a famous pilgrimage town, one of the
most important of Christianity. Pilgrims came from all over Europe following the Camino de Santiago to reach the city born around the Holy Tomb,
exercising a great influence on the surrounding area. This is evidenced in the small towns,
churches, hospitals, and monasteries that were
built near the Camino to attend to the thousands of pilgrims who came to visit the tomb. This
influence in the local architecture and art was especially strong and long-lasting in the north-west of Spain, but the fame and the reputation of the sanctuary of Santiago de Compostela went
well beyond; Galicia was even known in the Nordicsagas as Jakobsland.

What is the Portuguese way of St James?

The most frequently used Portuguese Way of St.James is the Central Route, which passes through Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto. It is fully waymarked
from Lisbon with the unmistakable yellow arrows
that mark the Ways of St. James, and sometimes with a yellow scallop shell on a blue background, the official symbol.

The Camino provides a great way to disconnect from daily stress, allows pilgrims to walk out their faith, and gives travelers an
authentic unique experience. Some walk to contemplate a potential life change. Others grieve the loss of a loved
one, or walk in gratitude for surviving severe illness, for simplicity in life and less stress, to meet new friends ( pilgrims from every country around the world) or time to observe nature & history. There were battles where kingdoms rose and fell and religions came and went. There are old, stone buildings or walls, & fortresses, both the ones standing nobly and the ones in decay. People built these and have lived in and among them for centuries. There is a river, a road, or some natural resource that first gave birth to the settlements. Perhaps there's a bridge and of course there are churches. The farming communities grow olives, walnuts, lemons, oranges,etc.Read more