Geography
The Cultural Geography of Pilgrimage Routes and Sacred Sites
Quick fact
The Camino de Santiago in Spain has been walked by pilgrims for over 1,000 years, and today, more than 300,000 people complete it annually, generating a unique micro-economy along the route.
Why this is interesting
Every year, millions of people walk the same ancient trails to reach a cathedral or a river, transforming the landscape around them. What makes a route or a site sacred, and how does that sacredness shape the geography of entire regions?