¡Buen Camino! Your pilgrimage starts here

Every year, for over 12 centuries, thousands of people have gone on pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago trail from various parts of the world to arrive at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. In a unique natural and cultural setting that amazes pilgrims with every step they take, the Camino has been and continues to be the oldest, most widely used and most famous pilgrimage route in Europe.

Today the ‘¡Buen Camino! project —  a virtual pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago —   invites everyone to explore its most emblematic routes, the cultural, natural and architectural wonders, and the stories of the people who bring it to life. The project was created by the Regional Government of Galicia and Google Arts & Culture, in collaboration with the Regional Government of Aragon, Santiago Cathedral Foundation and the Spanish Federation of Associations of Friends of the Way of Saint James. 

Thanks to over 100 online exhibitions, more than 4,700 photographs and videos and 13 360º virtual visits, you can embark on a journey to discover monuments, charming villages and even a local restaurateur ready to share his anecdotes. Best of all, the project helps you to find tips and recommendations to prepare for this great adventure.

Learn about the Path and its Pilgrims

• An illustrated map of Europe with different drawings related to the Camino de Santiago placed in different points (a walker, an arrow, a construction).

  15 Things You May Not Know About the Camino,’ an illustrated map of St James Way’s routes in Europe, with quirky facts about the Camino.

• Photograph of a pilgrim with his back turned, wearing a yellow raincoat and a backpack. He is climbing some stairs on a narrow street.

  Where does the name Compostela come from? – ‘Ten things you didn't know about the Way of Saint James,’ helps you to answer that question.
  

• Photograph of a person of Asian origin holding chopsticks. The photograph was taken in a restaurant, in the background there are some tables.

  They can also find stories that focus on people and their relationship with the Way of Saint James, which include ‘Meet Yoon,’ a Korean who fell in love with the Way and who runs a restaurant in Santiago de Compostela…

• Photograph of a woman working on a pottery wheel, surrounded by ceramic pieces. There is a window in the background.

  …or ‘Persons who work on the Way,’ which shows the stories of people whose jobs are linked to the Way of Saint James in one way or another

• Photograph of a tree with a yellow arrow drawn on it. At the right, there is a path with two pilgrims walking backwards holding hands.

  The project also shows the Way of Saint James as accessible pilgrimage routes and includes features such as a guide via pictograms to do the Way to Santiago, a barrier-free route to do the Way in a wheelchair or the Way of diversity, with tips to ensure that everyone can fully enjoy the experience.

Discover the most emblematic routes

• An image of a during twilight. The tree's shadow stretches over the snowy ground. The image also features a red and yellow illustration of a boot walking along.

  Virtual pilgrims can choose between different routes to start their journey, such as the Primitive Way, used by the first pilgrims,

• Image of a coastal landscape with cliffs. Some seawaves have been drawn in blue. A small part of the cliffs has been painted in orange.

  The Northern Way that guides travelers from the sea,

• Image of a traditional Galician construction, a low, round building with a thatched roof. Orange bricks have been drawn on top of the image.

  The French Way, the most famous and historic route,

• Image of a lighthouse at night on top of a rock. The contours of the lighthouse and a yellow beam of light have been drawn on top of the photograph.

  The English Way, a route by land and sea,

• Image of the facade of a church and a man walking in front of it. The contours of the church have been drawn on top of the photograph with yellow lines.

  The Portuguese Way, one of the oldest routes,

• Image of an estuary with a bridge in the background. The silhouette of the bridge has been drawn on top of the photograph in blue.

  The Coastal Portuguese Way, a route along the dramatic coastal landscape, one of Galicia’s best-kept secret,

• Photograph of a fountain in a cloister. The water falling from the fountain has been drawn in yellow.

  The Mozarabic Way, a route that brings together southern and northern roots,

• Aerial photograph of a green valley. The river that crosses it is drawn in yellow. Two trees are also drawn in the foreground.

  The Winter Way, a route through the unrivaled beauty of Galicia’s valleys,

• Photograph of a port with small boats. A boat has been drawn in yellow. Clouds in the sky and the silhouette of two seagulls have also been drawn.

  The Sea Route of Arousa and the Ulla River, a maritime and river route

• Aerial image of a cape entering the sea. A lighthouse has been drawn on top of the rock.

  The Finisterre-Muxía Way, a route that guides you to Eruope’s western edge.

Explore the cultural, natural and architectural wonders

• Aerial photograph of a land cape entering the sea. Small constructions can be discerned on the cape.

  Galician music: The soundtrack of the Way of Saint James,’ a selection of modern music that explores a range of reinterpretations of the music of Galicia, from traditional music to folk, jazz, electro, trap and rock;

• A photograph of an horreo (a structure built on pillars for storing food and protecting it from damp and animals) and a stone cross in a mountain, with the sea at the back.

  or the exhibition ‘Other kinds of architectural heritage on the Way of Saint James,’ which shows users some of the most surprising and best kept secrets of the religious heritage of the Ways: some are famous, some are odd.

• A photograph of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in which can be seen in the foreground, two stone statues, and in the background, the facade of the Obradoiro of the Cathedral.

  Finally, everyone can also enjoy virtual 360º tours to immerse themselves in places such as the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela,

• A photograph of the tower of hercules, an ancient Roman lighthouse, captured at night. Two blurred people appear in the foreground walking.

  the Tower of Hércules, the only fully preserved Roman lighthouse that is still used for maritime signaling,

• Photograph of the apse of the church covered with Gothic paintings and a woman, captured half-length, observing them.

  or the Vilar de Donas Church, a taste of art and history along the French Way.

  
  

‘¡Buen Camino’, which is available in 11 languages, including Spanish, Galician, English, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Russian, sets out to inspire everyone around the world about the benefits of walking and connecting with nature, hopefully helping you  feel the magic of walking the Camino de Santiago.

Find the project on the Google Arts & Culture app for iOS and Android and at g.co/buencamino.

by Sixtine Fabre via The Keyword