Spain’s Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Route

Atapuerca Caves

Atapuerca

The archaeological site at Atapuerca is extraordinary for many reasons, not least for the discovery of traces of human life from a million years ago, the oldest in Europe. The Sierra de Atapuerca is home to open-air sites and the Atapuerca caves, where cave paintings can be seen. The remains of 32 people were found in the Sima de los Huesos cave, one of the largest examples of an ancient human colony. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was also declared a Site of Outstanding Universal Value by UNESCO in 2015.

Plaza del Castillo, Pamplona

Plaza del Castillo, Pamplona

The heart of the Old Town of Pamplona, Plaza del Castillo is a lively central square surrounded by grand 18th-century houses with shuttered windows and wrought-iron balconies. Ernest Hemingway frequented bars on the edge of the square in the 1920s and it appears as a location in his book, The Sun Also Rises. Orchestral concerts, markets, dance shows and folk music are held throughout the year.

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

This beautiful, red-roofed town, founded in the 12th century, is the starting point of the Camino Frances. The cobbled streets slope down to the river, with ornate wooden overhangs and balconies on the buildings carved with inscriptions, designs and religious symbols. The route begins on the Rue d’Espagne, through the Porte d’Espagne gate in the 19th-century walls.

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

Santiago de Compostela

The final stop on the Camino Way, around 30,000 Camino pilgrims make it here every year. The capital of the Spanish autonomous region of Galicia, it has a strong local character with local music including bagpipes and restaurants specializing in Galician seafood and local wine. The famous cathedral is the jewel in the crown of a city full of impressive architecture.

Templar Castle in Ponferrada, Spain

Ponferrada

The capital of the region of El Bierzo, Ponferrada is one of the major staging posts on the Camino Way as it passes through the province of Leon. A citadel in Roman times, today the historic quarter of the town sits below an imposing castle built by the Knights Templar. Try some of the regional dishes including botillo, a smoked and marinated pork sausage served with potatoes, and a Bierzo wine.

Contact one of our travel agents to book your pilgrimage to Spain.