Page 161 - Guerin Media Ltd | Active Retirement Ireland Members Annual 2016
P. 161
ADVICE ON THE CAMINO TRAVEL
Last year, over 5,000 pilgrimage Certificates were given to Irish pilgrims on the Camino de Santigo.
Many thousands more walk or cycle other Camino sections across France, Spain and Portugal each
year. More than just a pilgrimage, the Camino is a trip of a lifetime. It is a social and cultural
experience that stays in people’s hearts long before they hang up their walking boots!
Here are 20 interesting
Camino de Santiago
facts you should know:
1. Camino de Santiago means “Way of Saint James” and
refers to the different routes leading to Santiago de
Compostela, the capital of Galicia in Northern Spain.
2. S antiago de Compostela means “Saint James
Santiago of the field of stars”.
3. T here are many different Camino de Santiago routes,
starting in France, Portugal and Spain; as far as Paris
and Geneva.
4. Traditionally pilgrims used to start their
‘Camino’ from their own homes. Irish pilgrims used
to take a boat from the main ports of Ireland to the
Northern ports of Galicia, such as Ferrol.
5. T he yellow scallop shell and yellow arrows mark
the way to Santiago. But careful: the scallop might
be facing different ways depending on the regions.
6. The Camino Primitivo (or Original Way) from Oviedo
is the oldest Camino de Santiago route.
7. However, the most famous Camino route is the
Camino Francés or “French Way” starting in St Jean
Pied de Port, in the French Pyrenees. This is the
route featured in such movies as The Way, with
Martin Sheen.
8. The trail from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago is
800kms long and takes approximately five weeks
to complete but you can start your Camino at any
point.
9. You need to walk at least 100kms into Santiago to
receive your Compostela pilgrim certificate.
10. This makes Sarria (111kms away from Santiago)
the most popular starting point for walkers.
11. You will need to cycle at least 200kms to
Santiago to receive your Compostela certificate.
Cyclists on the Camino are known as ‘bici-grinos’
(bike-pilgrims).
www.activeirl.ie Active Retirement Ireland 161
Last year, over 5,000 pilgrimage Certificates were given to Irish pilgrims on the Camino de Santigo.
Many thousands more walk or cycle other Camino sections across France, Spain and Portugal each
year. More than just a pilgrimage, the Camino is a trip of a lifetime. It is a social and cultural
experience that stays in people’s hearts long before they hang up their walking boots!
Here are 20 interesting
Camino de Santiago
facts you should know:
1. Camino de Santiago means “Way of Saint James” and
refers to the different routes leading to Santiago de
Compostela, the capital of Galicia in Northern Spain.
2. S antiago de Compostela means “Saint James
Santiago of the field of stars”.
3. T here are many different Camino de Santiago routes,
starting in France, Portugal and Spain; as far as Paris
and Geneva.
4. Traditionally pilgrims used to start their
‘Camino’ from their own homes. Irish pilgrims used
to take a boat from the main ports of Ireland to the
Northern ports of Galicia, such as Ferrol.
5. T he yellow scallop shell and yellow arrows mark
the way to Santiago. But careful: the scallop might
be facing different ways depending on the regions.
6. The Camino Primitivo (or Original Way) from Oviedo
is the oldest Camino de Santiago route.
7. However, the most famous Camino route is the
Camino Francés or “French Way” starting in St Jean
Pied de Port, in the French Pyrenees. This is the
route featured in such movies as The Way, with
Martin Sheen.
8. The trail from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago is
800kms long and takes approximately five weeks
to complete but you can start your Camino at any
point.
9. You need to walk at least 100kms into Santiago to
receive your Compostela pilgrim certificate.
10. This makes Sarria (111kms away from Santiago)
the most popular starting point for walkers.
11. You will need to cycle at least 200kms to
Santiago to receive your Compostela certificate.
Cyclists on the Camino are known as ‘bici-grinos’
(bike-pilgrims).
www.activeirl.ie Active Retirement Ireland 161
