The Pilgrimage to Santiago in January 2008

Pilgrim’s Office

            During the month of January 2008, 306 pilgrims were received at the Pilgrim’s Office. The number of pilgrims in the year 2007 during the same period was 350.

            Of those pilgrims, 95 were women (31,05%)  and 211 men 68,95%). 288 pilgrims (94,12%) arrived on foot and 18 by bicycle (5,88%).

Pilgrims’ Age.

            4 pilgrims were younger than 15 years old (1,31%); 146 were between 16 and 35 years old (48,04%); 150 were between 36 and 65 years old (49,02%) and 6 were aged above 65 years old (1,96%).

Pilgrims’ Motivation.

Pilgrims’ Nationality.

            Spanish: 159 (51,96%). Most of the pilgrims come from: Madrid, 44; Galicia and Catalonia with 19 pilgrims in both cases); Valencian Community with 15; Castile and León 13, and the Basque Country, 11.

            Foreigners: 147 (48,04%). Most of the pilgrims come from the following countries: Germany with 34; Italy with 15; Brazil with 13; the United States and Portugal with 8 pilgrims in both cases; The Nederland’s and France with 6 pilgrims each, and Switzerland with 5.

Starting Points.

            Most of the pilgrims received during the month of January started their Way to Santiago in: Sarria, 56 (18,30%); O Cebreiro, 26 (8,50%); Ponferrada 25 (8,16%); St. Jean Pied de Port 20 (6,54%); in Roncesvalles, León and Astorga started 18 pilgrims respectively (5,88%) and in Burgos 12 (3,92%).

The Chosen Routes

            Most of the pilgrims chose the French Way with 240 (78,43%); followed by the Portuguese Route with 28 pilgrims (9,15%), the Silver Way has been chosen by 18 pilgrims (5,88%), the Northern Way with 11 (3,59%), the Primitive Way with 4 pilgrims (1,31%) and the English way with only 1 pilgrim (0,33%) . Four pilgrims (1,31%) have chosen other ways.