The Pilgrimage to Santiago in January 2008

Pilgrim’s Office

            During the month of February 2008, 703 pilgrims were received at the Pilgrim’s Office. The number of pilgrims in the year 2007 during the same period was 666.

            Of those pilgrims, 217 were women (30,87%) and 486 men (69,13%). 654 pilgrims arrived on foot (93,03%); 47 by bicycle (6,69%) and 2 on horseback (0,28%).

Pilgrims’ Age.

            71 pilgrims were younger than 15 years old (10,10%); 366 were between 16 and 35 years old (52,06%); 258 were between 36 and 65 years old (36,70%) and 8 were aged above 65 years old (1,19%).

Pilgrims’ Motivation.

Pilgrims’ Nationality.

            Spanish: 346 (49,22%). Most of the pilgrims come from: Madrid, 85; Andalucia 71; Catalonia with 39 ;  Extremadura 30 ; Canary Islands, 29; Balearic Islands 22; Galicia 18 and Valencian Community with 14.

            Foreigners: 357. (50,78%) Most of the pilgrims come from the following countries: Portugal with 137; Germany with 15; France with 37; Italy with 20; Brazil with 14; Austria with 11  and Belgium with 10 pilgrims.

Starting Points.

            Most of the pilgrims received during the month of February started their Way to Santiago in: O Cebreiro, 146 (20,77%); Sarria, 125 (17,78%); Tuy 63 (8,96%); St. Jean Pied de Port 50 (7,11%); in Roncesvalles 37 (5,26%); in  León 28 (3,98%); in Ponferrada 25 (3,56%); in Valença do Minho 17 (2,42%); in Villafranca 15 (2,13%); in Astorga 15 (2,13%) ; in Burgos 14 (1,99%) and in Pamplona and Seville 13 pilgrims (1,85%)  respectively.

The Chosen Routes

            Most of the pilgrims chose the French Way with 552 (78,52%) ; followed by the Portuguese Route with 97 pilgrims (13,80%) , the Silver Way has been chosen by 28 pilgrims (3,98%), the Northern Way with 12 (1,71%), the Primitive Way with 10  pilgrims (1,42%) and the English way with only 4 pilgrims (0,52%).