Way of saint james

Way of Saint James
University of Santiago de Compostela
Abstract.
Santiago de Compostela is a Spanish World Heritage town of historical and religious importance. It is best known as the ending point of one of the most important cultural itineraries of Europe, the Way of Saint James. However, for many visitors, Santiago de Compostela is not just the ending point of an astonishing journey, butalso a good place for starting something completely new.
The Saint James’ Way has been one of the main pilgrimage ways of Christianity since the Middle Ages. It has experienced a great revitalization since the 1980’s –particularly in holy years, beginning by 1993. Actually, the recovery of this route is part of the strategies for distinguishing this destination implemented from the Xunta deGalicia, the regional executive. Besides, there has been intense work done in the Compostélan local administration. The results are unquestionable as to the success reached, at least if measured by the arrival of visitors or the increase in accommodation offer. However, some facts cast a shadow over this bright perspective. The exhaustion of the formula used since 1993 —excessively based on promotion—the inability to generate dynamism in the territories along the different routes or threats of overcrowding and deterioration of the way are the most quoted issues and the ones to be dealt with in the years to come.
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www.world-tourism.org
http://www.pilgrimscentrum.org/

Introduction
The pilgrimage to Santiagosoon became the most outstanding and most profoundly experienced religious phenomenon of the Middle Ages, a fact that was recently recognized by the European Parliament, which designated the Way the First European Cultural Itinerary, and by UNESCO, which declared it a World Heritage route.
The discovery of the tomb of the Apostle James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John the Evangelist,changed the appearance of a small Roman settlement in the northwest Iberian Peninsula that, with the passing of the centuries, had become a necropolis; it was also a turning point in the spiritual history of a continent that soon set about building a road in order to reach the precious relic.
Also known as Saint James, Santiago de Compostela is a small town in Galicia region of northwestern Spain....