It all began in the 9th century, when the hermit Pelayo discovered the tomb of the Apostle James in Compostela. King Alfonso II the Chaste was the first documented pilgrim, thus establishing the route we now know as the Camino Primitivo. During the Middle Ages, the Camino became one of the main pilgrimage routes of Christianity, along with Rome and Jerusalem.

The 11th to 13th centuries were the golden age of the Camino de Santiago, when tens of thousands of pilgrims walked it each year. However, the Protestant Reformation and subsequent wars caused its decline. It was not until the end of the 20th century that the Camino experienced a spectacular renaissance, becoming one of the main destinations for cultural and spiritual tourism in the world.

Currently, more than 300,000 pilgrims walk one of the Jacobean routes each year, motivated by religious, cultural, sports or personal search reasons. In 1987, the Camino was declared the First European Cultural Itinerary by the Council of Europe, and in 1993 a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Holy Years of Compostela, celebrated when July 25 falls on a Sunday, attract pilgrims from all over the world.

Walking the Camino today means embarking on a journey of personal transformation. Beyond initial motivations, pilgrims discover universal values: effort, personal improvement, solidarity among walkers, and finding oneself. The Camino is a metaphor for life: a journey where every step counts, where you learn to live with the essentials, and where the destination is as important as the journey itself.