The Camino – Join the Queue to Santiago

What happens when hundreds of thousands of people set out to find themselves on the same path?

The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St James is one of the most famous pilgrimage routes in the world. We meet a wide variety of pilgrims: Marcello, who is travelling with his cat; Babette, who carries the ashes of her late husband with her; Veronica and her friends, for whom fun is more important than spirituality. But as pilgrim numbers continue to rise, tensions are growing. Local residents complain about noisy groups, dirty clothing hanging from historic buildings to dry, and pilgrims bathing in centuries-old Baroque fountains. What was once a deeply personal journey is increasingly feeling the pressures of mass tourism. How can the magic of the the Camino de Santiago be preserved?

See also:
Mass Tourism - Massive Problems?