Santiago de Compostela is a city of about 90,000 people in
Galicia, northwestern Spain. Santiago's name and fame both derive
from Saint James the Apostle (Sant Iago), whose holy relics are
believed to be enshrined under the cathedral's altar. Santiago
became a major pilgrimage destination. Devout pilgrims traveled long
distances along the Camino de Santiago ("Route of St. James"), a
series of pilgrimage roads throughout France and Spain, to pray at
the tomb of St. James and gain religious merit. |