The Camino de Santiago isn't just a huge deal for Galicia, but for all of Spain. In fact, there's even a route which leaves from Valencia, which would be treacherous during the summer months, since it crosses the country's arid plains. Being a northern capital, it was a given that Oviedo would get in on the Camino de Santiago. Read all about it in this article which was first published on our Asturias Travel Blog in 2010.
The Way of Saint James, or the Camino de Santiago as it’s called in Spain, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian pilgrimages, probably right behind Jerusalem. Ending in Santiago de Compostela and starting from any number of spots, though usually in France, the pilgrimage requires a commitment of months.
The symbol of the Camino de Santiago is the scallop shell. The shell’s multitude of lines which all converge in a single point symbolize the many different paths which pilgrims can take to reach Santiago. And although Oviedo doesn’t lie on the most well-known route (The Camino Francés), it’s become an important stop nonetheless. In fact, for centuries during the middle ages, a detour to Oviedo was considered obligatory, to pay tribute to the relics in the Cámara Santa.
The shell symbol can be found all over the city, on the sidewalks, on signs and engraved in stone within the Cathedral, and demonstrates the importance of the Camino to Oviedo. Alfonso II the Chaste was the king of Asturias when the remains of Saint James were originally “discovered” in Santiago, and is well-known as the first pilgrim to the city. Old Alfie got the ball rolling.
Calle Magdalena, near the park of Campillín, used to be the way pilgrims would enter Oviedo. Within a small niche in the stone facade of one of the street’s buildings, you can still find an ancient statue of Mary Magdalene, whom the pilgrims would pause to revere. The street today is still full of activity, as a popular pedestrian zone with a lot of great little shops.
Amazingly, the Camino de Santiago is gaining steadily in popularity. I doubt it has anything to do with growing religious fervor. Most of the pilgrims we’ve seen on the roads have been young hippies looking for a “life experience”. We were always amused to notice that almost every town in Asturias claims to be on the Camino. The tourist dollars are awfully tempting, and you’ll find the shell sign on every street, in every tiny town.
Have any of our readers done the Camino de Santiago? I can see the appeal — any grand undertaking like this is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
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Maybe I´m late with my comment but I´ve done the "Way of St. James" (Camino Frances) and it was a life expirience. As a short conclusion I found more than I was looking for. It´s so much more than walking 800 km. It´s about meeting yourself and other people outside of the stressed daily life and society preasure. I guess all of the people who want to walk the way will hear him calling.
So a very nice appetizer of you @for91days. :-)
greetings - fromheart
It's ultimate way to slow travel! Thank you for the treat.
Lovely information about Camino de Santiego with beautiful photographs. As usual a travelling experience for us, either :)
I'm so happy you stopped by - maybe one day we can do a steemit camino de Santiego one day!
Thank you, look forward to it :)
excelente, este post me recuerda al libro el peregrino de Paulo Coelho..
Saludos amigo
Last year I went to Pamplona and met people who had already their feet aching after less 80 km walking. A friend of mine complete the path from Aragon till Santiago . It should be both challenging and a great experience
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Haha every town claims to be on the trail. . . Thats how these things go! Very interesting post. The fact that these shells can be seen all over the town is so cryptic and leads my imagination all over the place. I love it. It's like the hidden mickey symbols hidden all over disneyland.
I kind of want to go back try to find more camino symbols. They're really all over! And I love the comparison to the Mickey symbols at Disneyland which is somehow also some sort of pilgrimage.
I haven't done it! But, I have a friend who did it and she met her husband there! So yeah, maybe worth a try hahaha
I'd go for two husband ... why not!!! Let's do it.
😂😂
Hiya, just swinging by to let you know that this post made the Honorable Mentions list in our Daily Travel Digest!