From the United States to Zaire
The Camino de Santiago has become the Camino of the World, with pilgrims coming from every corner of the globe. What started 1200 years ago as a European pilgrimage now brings pilgrims from as far away as the Solomon Islands!
Excluding the Spanish pilgrims, who account for just under 50% of the total number of pilgrims, the country that leads is the United States, with Australia and Canada not too far behind. Considering the distance from Spain, the fact that these countries appear in the top tier is simply amazing!
The bar chart below has been adapted from the Pilgrim’s Welcome Office in Santiago de Compostela.
Fresco Tours is proud to have helped hundreds of pilgrims from these countries to discover and walk the Camino. We truly believe that this Camino of the World is a singular event that brings together people from all walks of life, faiths and cultures.
A Camino of the World that unites
The Camino de Santiago may be the only religious pilgrimage that is open to everyone. For Catholics, the Camino preserves its solemn religious meaning. In Catholic belief, Santiago de Compostela is the final resting place of Saint James the Greater.
However, other countries appear in the statistics whose population are mostly of other faiths. This is the case of Indonesia in the top tier, which is the most populated Muslim country in the world. Japan, a country that is predominantly Shinto, also ranks high.
Let’s continue celebrating the Camino!
