Although the origin of the Camino de Santiago had a strong religious nature, nowadays there is multiple types of Camino pilgrims. Whatever your circumstances are in deciding to start this amazing adventure, the Camino offer you plenty of varieties.

In the new post of the Living The Camino blog we would light to underline every single aspect according to the type of pilgrim you are: cultural, gastronomic, sporting or religious.

The Jacobean Camino, a pilgrimage to the Santiago Apostle grove

As you probably knows, the origin of the Camino date back to a vague time in the decade from 820 to 830. According to the Christian tradition, the grove of the Apostle Santiago and two of his disciples, Theodore and Athanasius, were located in some place in the woods of the present Galicia.

Without more signs of evidence, the history was not confirmed until the moment in which an eremite by name Paio found the mentioned groves in a wood called Libredón.

The Kings Alphonsus II and Alphonsus III ordered to build a humble church at the beginning, and a greater one after, seed of the present Cathedral and the city of Santiago de Compostela.

Through the next centuries a very strong christian tradition evolved: this is the origin of the present ways, some of them as ancient as the very pilgrimage. Nowadays, according to that ancient tradition, a lot of people cover the Camino de Santiago with such a spirit, searching on it a spiritual journey back to their christian roots.

You will find very often references to this spirit, if you decided to walk the Camino with those religious feelings. Also the pilgrim can find numerous evidences of how the experience is enriching for everybody.

The sporting challenge: competitive spirit

Beyond of this spiritual trip, there are other types of Camino pilgrims, who will definitely enjoy this experience. This is for sure the sporting pilgrim.

Precisely that passion for nature and the physical exercise, typical of the sporting character, will find a great challenge for her/his capacity.

For the most demanding ones, the Aragonese Way is the best one. Starting from the Aragonese town of Arrés, in the Huesca province, it presents an uneven outline up to 500 mt.

For those looking to cycle the Camino de Santiago by bike, it is crucial to choose the right route(enlace post 2 de marzo). Neither none of the Ways are too rugged. Anyway the Primitive Way is the less indicated, according to its demanding outline.

Culture and Gastronomy: a treasure to unveil for all types of Camino pilgrims

The third type of Camino pilgrims is the cultural and gastronomic, and here they will find a huge amount of possibilities.

Specially in the French Way the cultural treasure is really wide, and you can find some Romanesque Masterpieces, as the Santa María la Real Monastery, in Nájera.

Also you definitely cannot miss the Monastery of San Juan de Ortega, the Monastery of Las Huelgas Reales and the incredible Church of San Martín de Tours, in Frómista.

Last but not least,the Camino de Santiago brings you the possibility to enjoy the amazing gastronomic culture of Spain and Portugal. Roast baby lamb and cured ham for carnivores in Teruel (Aragon), asparagus from Navarre, Piquillo Peppers from Lodosa, Idiazábal and Roncal cheeses, and artichokes from Tudela in the first stage of the French Way, those are some of the delicious that you can find in the Camino.

The world famous La Rioja wines, and the ones from the Ribera del Duero, in Castilla de la Mancha, appear as mandatory stages. So you could already guess how the ultimate goal of the Way represents a great gastronomic occasion in the pilgrim’s route.

You will find amazing to check how Galicia is the ideal destination to taste the best delicious and of course freshly-caught shellfish: mussels, king scallops, crabs, scallops … every of them with a truly and unique flavour.