Pilgrimages of Europe: Santiago de Compostela

El Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) is one of the oldest pilgrimage routes in Europe--beginning in St. Jean-Pied-de-Port, France and wending all the way across Spain to the holy city of Santiago de Compostela, where lie the bones of St. James, one of the original 12 apostles. During the Middle Ages, half a million people would walk across Europe each year as part of a spiritual quest, staying at monasteries, pilgrim hospices, and churches; today, thousands still make the journey to St. James' shrine. One of 12 videos in the Pilgrimages of Europe series, examining the history, spiritual heritage, and cultural background behind many of the ancient pilgrimage routes of Europe, this program follows a handful of pilgrims as they slowly make their way along the path, interweaving the personal stories of the pilgrims with the sense of the sacred they experience along the way. While lacking the detail one would find in a straight travelogue, this inspirational program will still appeal to armchair travelers and those looking for interesting spiritual documentaries. Recommended. Other titles in the series include: Croagh Patrick (Ireland), Iona (Scotland), Medjugorje (Bosnia), Kevelaer (Germany), Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Fatima (Portugal), and Lourdes (France). Aud: P. (J. Asala)