Since antiquity, pilgrimages have been characterized by the movement of people and worship services that accompany them. These travels and rituals evoke the relationship with the sacred, where veneration and prayer in Holy places represent the completed path.
Santiago de Compostela is one of the main places of Christian pilgrimage and its importance in terms of the history of Christianity is underpinned by ancient traditions that the Apostle James (the Greater) was buried in the place where today stands the Cathedral of Compostela. This conviction has resulted in countless pilgrims converging to Santiago de Compostela since the middle ages to the present day, after a period of decline dating from the early modern age.
The sacred place gave rise to a network of paths across Europe — — the French path was the natural route followed by pilgrims coming from Europe, but there were others that led to Santiago, namely the Portuguese path and the Vía de la Plata, used by pilgrims from Portugal and southern Spain. In Portugal, the paths of Santiago are present a little everywhere, to a large extent to the north. The continuous traffic of pilgrims during the middle ages traced the paths to Santiago, originating from various parts of the territory, converging with one another until they reached the two main routes towards Galicia – one along the coast to Valença, the other, inland to Chaves.
One of the most travelled paths, known as the Portuguese central path, comes from the south and follows along the coast. With various alternative routes along the way, including the variants of Viana and Braga, it passes through Santarém, Tomar, Coimbra and Porto, where it follows towards São Pedro de Rates and Barcelos. It then passes by Ponte de Lima, enters Galicia through Valença and Tui and continues toward Pontevedra and Padrón.
Another important path, today known as the Portuguese inland path, connects Viseu to Chaves, passes by Lamego, Régua, Vila Real, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, enters Galicia by Chaves and Verin, thence to Ourense. The region of Trás-os-Montes reveals a remarkable popular cult to Santiago, also leading to a diversity of paths.
Today, following a European trend, the Caminhos de Santiago are revitalized in Portugal: paths are indicated, hostels are built to house the pilgrims that come from various parts of the world, and promotional actions are carried out. This increasing appreciation and dissemination will allow acquiring new perspectives on the Jacobean pilgrimage, besides that of the traditional French path. The Caminho de Santiago is today an opportunity to discover our Country in different territories. As a final note, we would like to emphasise that despite all routes that may exist, the most important thing is that the Caminho de Santiago begins and ends, of course, in the home of each pilgrim, because the pilgrimage is not only limited to the outward path, but also the way back.
