Typical pueblo scene on the Camino de Santiago
Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago usally pass through two or three small pueblos for each 25 kilometer (15 mile) stretch. Many commented that the tallest building in each pueblo was invariably a church. This modest ‘Romanesque’ style typified the medieval pilgrim’s style. Later, the more grandiose Gothic Cathedrals came into vogue. A few of those still lie on the Camino in places like Burgos and Leon. The irony is that all these magnficent churches dot what most consider to be the world’s most irreligious continent. American pilgrims tended to be more religious than their European counterparts. It all made for an interesting atmosphere on the Camino!
Bill Walker is the author of ‘The Best Way–El Camino de Santiago’ (2012). His prior books were Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail (2008) and Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail (2010).
The Best Way: El Camino de Santiago 