compostela

Compostela commonly refers to Santiago de Compostela, the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain. The name Compostela derives from Latin Campus Stellae, historically interpreted as “field of the star(s),” a form that appears in medieval Latin and was later Galicianized.

The city lies at the northwest end of the Iberian Peninsula and is renowned for the historic center’s architectural richness. The Historic Centre of Santiago de Compostela is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque buildings. Central to the city is the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a major Christian pilgrimage church reputed to house the remains of Saint James the Great, which has made the city a key spiritual and cultural destination since the Middle Ages.

Compostela is also the terminus of the Camino de Santiago, a network of pilgrimage routes converging there from various parts of Europe. Since medieval times, millions have undertaken the journey for religious, cultural, or personal reasons. The routes culminate at the Cathedral, where pilgrims traditionally celebrate their accomplishment.

The term Compostela also designates the official certificate awarded to pilgrims who complete the Camino. Issued by the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago de Compostela, the Compostela confirms that the traveler undertook the pilgrimage and completed the required distance: at least 100 kilometers on foot (or 200 kilometers by bicycle) with appropriate stamps in a pilgrimage credential. The certificate is a widely recognized symbol of the Camino experience.