THE COMPOSTELA

RULES FOR OBTAINING THE COMPOSTELA ON FOOT

- THESE 100 Kms DO NOT HAVE TO BE THE LAST ONES BEFORE AND IMMEDIATELY TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA.

- YOU CAN DO 80 Kms., IF YOU WANT, BY ANY OF THE ROADS RECOGNIZED BY THE CABILDO, BUT ALWAYS BY THE SAME ONE AND IN STAGES FOLLOWING ONE ANOTHER (IT IS NOT ALLOWED TO SKIPPING STAGES EVEN IF THESE 80 Kms. ARE COMPLETED, NOR TO CHANGE ROADS) AND IT IS MANDATORY TO DO THE LAST STAGE (BY THE SAME ROAD AS YOU DID THE PREVIOUS STAGES) BEFORE ARRIVING IN SANTIAGO AND THUS COMPLETE THE TOTAL 100 KMS. REQUIRED FOR THE COMPOSTELA ISSUE.

LITERAL TRANSCRIPTION OF THE RULES ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE OF THE PILGRIM'S RECEPTION OFFICE

REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIVING THE COMPOSTELA Once the pilgrimage is finished, SAMI Catedral de Santiago will issue the Compostela, an historical document written in latin to award those who come to the tomb of the Apostle St. James for Christian purposes (“devotionis affectu, voti vel pietatis”) along any of the routes recognized by the International Pilgrim’s Reception Office system. Pilgrimage on foot or horseback: completion of at least 100 continuous kilometers on the same route to Santiago recognized by the International Pilgrim’s Reception Office system. The final stage must include at least, the last one leading into Santiago’s Cathedral. If a pilgrim has already started a route on foot outside Spain along one of the routes recognized by the International Pilgrim’s Reception Office system, the required distance in Spain shall be no less than 70 kilometers. Pilgrimage by bicycle: completion at least 200 kilometers, following the same conditions as the pilgrimage on foot. The Cabildo (Church Council) reserves the right to grant the Compostela in special and exceptional cases. In such instances, the International Pilgrim Welcome Center must be contacted in advance. You can do the Way in stages, provided they are in chronological and geographical order. However, if you only do the minimum required distance (last 100 or 200 km), you must always get your Credencial stamped at the start and end of each stage, including the corresponding date, to show that the pilgrim has resumed the Way in the same place where they last stopped (i.e. you should always get the stamp at the starting point even though you have already stamped the card in the same place at the end of the previous stage). Children and pilgrimage. Children who make the pilgrimage with their parents or in groups, and have received the sacrament of Communion, or have the ability to understand the meaning of the spiritual or religious nature of the Way, can receive the “Compostela”. If they are not mature enough due to their young age, they are given a special certificate with their names. In the case of infants or very young children, their names are included on the parent or accompanying adult’s “Compostela”. If you are in any doubt, please contact us at the Pilgrim’s Reception Office so we can look at each individual case.

1. Free food: Currently, the Hostal Reyes Católicos, Parador Nacional, located in the Plaza del Obradoiro, offers a free meal at one in the afternoon, in the Enxebre dining room, to the first ten pilgrims of each day. Thus, it maintains the old hospitality tradition.

2nd. Visit the Portico of La Gloria for free: Currently, in the same Pilgrim's Office, the first 25 pilgrims when they obtain their Compostela are given a free entry ticket to visit the Portico of La Gloria. It is not known how long the issuance of this ticket will continue.