Compostela

The pilgrimage to the Tomb of Saint James, which began spontaneously before the 9th and 10th centuries, became institutionalized and acquired significant social and religious recognition. Therefore, it became necessary to prove that the pilgrimage had been completed. Initially, insignia such as the scallop shell were used, which could only be obtained in Santiago. It is easy to deduce how easy it was to falsify this rudimentary certification. Indeed, counterfeit versions were sold at the entrance to the city, prompting the bishops of Compostela and even the Pope to decree excommunication penalties against the forgers. More effective, because harder to counterfeit, were the so-called cartas probatórias, issued in the 13th century. These certificates are the direct predecessors of the Compostela.

In the 16th century, the Catholic Monarchs established the Royal Hospital Foundation and built the building that now houses the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos, which was converted into a luxury hotel in 1954. By presenting the Compostela, pilgrims gained the right to free lodging for three days. The healthcare needs of pilgrims turned the institution, after necessary expansions, into the most important hospital in Galicia, and later into the seat of the renowned Faculty of Medicine of Compostela. In 1954, it became a Parador de Turismo, although, as a tradition of hospitality, the hotel still offers free meals to the first pilgrims of each day who arrive at the Albergue, always presenting the Compostela, or a photocopy of it.

The advent of automobiles and, in the 20th century, the popularization of tourism, brought a certain crisis to the pilgrimage: it was feared that the effort and sacrifice associated with walking the pilgrimage, which once represented an act of penance, would now be seen as a recreational and enjoyable activity. Consequently, authorities from other sanctuaries began issuing visitor certificates that imitated the Compostela. However, the Chapter of the Santiago Metropolitan Church continued to issue the certificate, and in modern times, the granting of the Compostela is limited to those who travel to the Tomb of Saint James for religious and/or spiritual reasons, following the official routes of the Camino de Santiago.

Requirements for receiving the Compostela:

• On foot or by horse: The pilgrim must have walked the last 100 km of any of the routes recognized as official by the S.A.M.I. . (Spanish acronym for Holy, Apostolic, and Metropolitan Church) Cathedral of Santiago.
• By boat: The pilgrim must have sailed 100 nautical miles and completed the remaining route on foot from the port where they landed, with the corresponding stamps in their credential.
• By bicycle: The pilgrim must have cycled the last 200 km of any official route recognized by the S.A.M.I. Cathedral of Santiago.
• By wheelchair: For special cases, contact the Oficina de Acogida al Peregrino.
• The credential must include at least two stamps per day with the corresponding date, obtained from any establishment to confirm the pilgrim’s stay.
• The pilgrimage must be made with a Christian purpose: “devotionis effectu, voti vel pietatis causa”, along any of the official routes recognized by the S.A.M.I.

In addition to the Compostela, the Oficina de Acogida al Peregrino offers pilgrims the Distance certificate, issued by the Chapter of the Cathedral of Santiago, confirming the number of kilometers covered along an official route. This document also records the starting day and point of the pilgrimage, the kilometers traveled, and the day of arrival. Those who have already completed the pilgrimage may also request it.

The Distance certificate is a bit larger than the Compostela and is printed on parchment paper. It is decorated with a Latin phrase and a miniature from the Codex Calixtinus.