THE HISTORY OF THE ROAD

THE LEGEND

The northwestern part of Spain,Celtic green Galicia, which the Romans called " Finis Terrae " , was the westernmost part of the world known at the time to the apostle James.

There are mixed accounts of the early years of Christianity to which the lands were awarded to the Spanish in order to preach the gospel. With little success few disciples ,he decided to go back to Jerusalem.

When he returned to Palestine , he was tortured and beheaded by Herod Agrippa who forbade his burial.Overnight, his disciples secretly carried his body to the sea , where they found a boat ready to sail without crew.

After the persecutions and prohibitions to visit the place, the population forgot its existence, until in the year 813 the hermit Pelayo saw flashes and heard chants in this place. Based on this success to the site Campus Stellae or Field of the Star, from which we derive the current name Compostela.There were a lot of legends.

THERE THEY PLACED THE APOSTLE IN A MARBLE TOMB JUST AFTER THE SEA CROSSING . HERE THEY BURIED HIS BODY IN A COMPOSTUM OR CEMETERY NEAR TO FOREST OF LIBERUM DONUM , WHERE THEY ERECTED AN ALTAR ON THE MARBLE TOMB

The hermit warned the bishop of Iria Flavia, Teodomiro, who after setting aside the undergrowth discovered the remains of the apostle, identified by the inscription on the tombstone

CATHED

RAL OF SAN

TIAGO

DE CO

MPO

STELA

He informed King Alfonso II of discovery, who rushed to the scene and proclaimed the apostle Santiago patron of the kingdom, building a sanctuary that later would become the Cathedral.

THE END