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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

Santiago de Compostela, modern pilgrimage, St. James, World Heritage Site

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

History

Abstract

The pilgrimage to the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela was proclaimed the first European Cultural itinerary by the Council of Europe in 1987. Six years later, UNESCO designated the pilgrimage route a World Heritage Site for its cultural significance during the Middle Ages. In addition to encouraging cultural exchanges in Spain, the medieval pilgrimage had significant economic and political consequences. During the last two decades of the twentieth century, the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela experienced a dramatic rediscovery. Once again, thousands of pilgrims began to make the journey across northern Spain to visit the tomb of St. James. The purpose of this project was to compare the economic impact of the pilgrimage on the economy of Santiago de Compostela after its rediscovery in the late twentieth century with its well-documented economic impact during the twelfth century.

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