For those of you who do not know, tell you that the Xacobeo Holy Year is the one that July 25 falls on a Sunday, just what will happen in this year 2010. This usually happens with a redular cadence of 6, 5, 6 and 11 years, Therefore, 14 Holy Xacobeos Years are celebrated a year . This year’s will be very significant because it will put an end to the relevant number of pilgrims who have been making the Camino de Santiago during this period of time.
This year will be a new occasion to celebrate the Camino, the one that becomes a place of pilgrimage and encounter between people and peoples . For centuries it has been erected as a symbol of European brotherhood and conscience.
Although many roads lead to Santiago, as is the case with the saying and the capital of Italy, today we will talk about two, the one that starts from France and the one that starts from Portugal .
French Way of Santiago
It is made up of 31 stages and begins in Saint Jean de Pied de Port. It ends, of course, in Santiago de Compostela. The Jacobean pilgrimages are the ones that most undertake this route for many years.
During medieval Europe there were many pilgrims who decided to pass through there moved by faith. It was the starting point of an entire artistic, cultural and economic development for all the towns through which this route passes until it reaches the Galician city.
Portuguese Way of Santiago
This Camino de Santiago has a lot of history, because in most of its points there have been anecdotes, battles and others that have marked the passing of the years. The «Ponte das Febres», the «Ponte de Sampaio» or the Canicouva are some of the most beautiful places that can be seen on this route.
There are two roads that start from our neighboring country. One is inland and begins with Vila Real and Chaves, entering Galicia through VerĂn and Ourense. Another is more western, starting with Lisbon.