Producing the Route of St. James: The Camino de Santiago in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

The Camino de Santiago, a historic pilgrimage route leading to the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, experienced significant cultural and political transformation during the 19th and 20th centuries. This study reveals that the modern revival of pilgrimage along this route was not merely a religious phenomenon but also a strategic construction of political ideology, which gained substantial cultural capital over time. The research focuses on the intensive efforts behind the production of the cult of St. James during the medieval period, particularly under the leadership of Diego Gelmírez (1093–1140), who used textual sources like the Codex Calixtinus to document privileges and appeal to donors. These texts, though often seen as outsider accounts, were actually produced in Santiago de Compostela to serve specific audiences, including wealthy patrons and pilgrims. The study employs a combination of historical analysis and documentary evidence to uncover the complexities of this cultural and political landscape.

Abou-El-Haj, B. (2016). Producing the Route of St. James: The Camino de Santiago in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Mediaevalia, 36(1), 51–77. https://doi.org/10.1353/mdi.2016.0004