Camino de Santiago in the context of "Villamelendro de Valdavia"

Martin of Tours (Latin: Martinus Turonensis; 316/336 – 8 November 397) was the third bishop of Tours. He is the patron saint of many communities and organizations across Europe, including France's Third Republic. A native of Pannonia (present-day Hungary), he converted to Christianity at a young age. He served in the Roman cavalry in Gaul, but left military service prior to 361, when he became a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers, establishing the monastery at Ligugé. He was consecrated as Bishop of Caesarodunum (Tours) in 371. As bishop, he was active in the suppression of the remnants of Gallo-Roman religion.

The contemporary hagiographer Sulpicius Severus wrote a Life of St. Martin. He is best known for the account of his using his sword to cut his cloak in two, to give half to a beggar clad only in rags in winter. His shrine in Tours became an often-frequented stop for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Logroño (UK: /lɒˈɡrɒnjoʊ/ log-RON-yoh, US: /ləˈɡroʊnjoʊ, loʊˈ-/ lə-GROHN-yoh, loh-, Spanish: [loˈɣɾoɲo] ) is the capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain. Located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, primarily in the right (South) bank of the Ebro River, Logroño has historically been a place of passage, such as the Camino de Santiago. Its borders were disputed between the Iberian kingdoms of Castille, Navarre and Aragon during the Middle Ages.

The population of the city in 2021 was 150,808 while the metropolitan area included nearly 200,000 inhabitants. The city is a centre of trade of Rioja wine, for which the area is noted, and manufacturing of wood, metal and textile products.

Burgos (Spanish: [ˈbuɾɣos] ) is a city in the autonomous community of Castile and León in Spain. It is the capital city of the province of Burgos, and with a population of 176,551, also the largest city in the province, and the 37th-largest in Spain.

Burgos is situated in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, on the confluence of the Arlanzón river tributaries and at the edge of the central plateau. The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route runs through Burgos.

Ourense (Galician: [owˈɾɛnsɪ]; Spanish: Orense [oˈɾense] ) is a city and the capital of the province of Ourense, located in the autonomous community of Galicia, northwestern Spain. It is on the Camino Sanabrés path of the Way of St James (Camino de Santiago), and is crossed by the Miño, Barbaña, Loña and Barbañica rivers. It is also known as A cidade das Burgas (in Galician) due to its hot springs, being one of the European cities with the greatest thermal heritage.

Lugo (Galician: [ˈluɣo], Spanish: [ˈluɣo] ) is a city in northwestern Spain in the autonomous community of Galicia. It is the capital of the province of Lugo. The municipality had a population of 100,060 in 2024, making it the fourth most populous city in Galicia.

Lugo is the only city in the world to be surrounded by completely intact Roman walls, which reach a height of 10 to 15 metres (33 to 49 feet) along a 2,117-metre (6,946 ft) circuit ringed with 71 towers. The walk along the top is continuous around the circuit and features ten gates. The 3rd century Roman walls, the only one of its kind in the world, are protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city's historic bridge over the Miño is also essentially of Roman date. The city of Lugo is along the Camino Primitivo path of the Camino de Santiago.

Via Transilvanica 'The Transylvanian Trail' is a hiking trail that crosses the Transylvania, Bukovina and Banat regions of Romania, and is meant to promote their cultural, ethnic, historical and natural diversity. It was built between 2018 and 2022, with its design and conception heavily inspired by historical pilgrims' ways and hiking trails, such as The Way of St. James and The Appalachian Trail. Starting at Putna, Suceava County, it stretches over 1,428 kilometres (887 miles), 10 counties of Romania, over 400 communities, and 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites, ending in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Mehedinți County. Its motto is "The road that unites".

The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, extends from different countries of Europe, and even North Africa, on its way to Santiago de Compostela and Finisterre. The local authorities try to restore many of the ancient routes, even those used in a limited period, in the interest of tourism.

Here follows an overview of the main routes of the modern-day pilgrimage.

Pontedeume (Galician pronunciation: [ˌponteˈðewmɪ]) is a municipality in the province of A Coruña in the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain, It borders the municipalities of Miño, Cabañas, A Capela, Villarmaior and Monfero, located between the cities of La Coruña (38 km) and Ferrol (18 km) and near Betanzos (26 km) and Puentes de García Rodríguez (31 km).

The town was founded ex novo by the town charter of Alfonso X the Wise in 1270, and is one of the few Galician towns that has preserved its old historic center. Its streets and squares retain many traditional elements such as arcades, houses with wooden balconies and glass galleries, public fountains and numerous monumental buildings. All this, together with the rich landscape and nature of the surroundings, led to the Eume River region being declared a Historic Site and Picturesque Place in 1971.The town is located on the English Way path of the Camino de Santiago.