Publications
Pilgrim Badge
A humble yet enduring symbol of medieval pilgrimage, the lead-cast scallop badge attributed to Saint Jacob, has been preserved in one of the world's most prestigious collections. This 15th-century French artifact, measuring just 2.1 x 1.4 cm, exemplifies the simplicity and affordability of tokens used by pilgrims on their journey to Santiago de Compostela—a tradition that continues today. The badge, displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York as part of its Met Cloisters collection, underscores the cultural significance of these objects, which could be worn around the neck or sewn onto clothing. Its survival in such a renowned institution highlights both the historical importance and the enduring legacy of medieval pilgrimage symbols.
2018 - 2023. Rampa y otras mejoras en la llegada a Santiago del Camino Francés, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, España
A significant improvement in the accessibility and continuity of the Camino Francés pilgrimage route into Santiago de Compostela has been achieved through the construction of a 120-meter-long, gently sloped ramp. This intervention replaces a problematic staircase that disrupted the route's flow and hindered mobility for wheelchair users, cyclists, and horse riders, addressing a 9-meter height difference between Monte do Gozo and urban infrastructures. The ramp is designed with curves and transitions to enhance the pilgrimage experience, providing visual connections to the city while maintaining a seamless transition from natural to urban environments. This project underscores the importance of infrastructure adaptations in preserving the historical and cultural significance of UNESCO-listed routes.
The Pilgrimonics of Camino
The Camino de Santiago, particularly the Camino Francés route from the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela, presents a paradoxical interplay between spirituality and economic entanglement. While intended as an escape from contemporary economic life, the pilgrimage is deeply embedded in monetary transactions, infrastructure development, and promotional activities. The study reveals how the evaluation of 'authentic' versus 'less authentic' pilgrims is influenced by both moral and financial considerations, highlighting the complex dynamics that govern this ancient yet economically vibrant tradition.
Traslatio: study and dissemination of maritime heritage
A systematic study of maritime architectural heritage along the southern estuary of Muros-Noia and the northern estuary of Arousa, Galicia, has uncovered a rich tapestry of small-scale traditional industries that shaped the region's identity. The Traslatio project identified key structures such as salting factories, canneries, shipyards, shellfish farms, and whaling factories, providing a detailed inventory that serves as a foundation for preserving and disseminating this heritage. By engaging with pilgrims, visitors, and local communities, the project fosters intergenerational dialogue, ensuring the transmission of maritime traditions associated with the Camino Francés and Northern Spain routes to Santiago de Compostela.
Aménagement du territoire et planification urbaine comme moyen de protection du territoire historique du Camino Francés en Galice. Efficacité et possibilité d’une action supra-municipale
Urban planning and territorial management can effectively protect the historical landscape of the Camino Francés in Galicia, particularly when implemented at a supra-municipal level. The study highlights that collective action across administrative boundaries enhances the preservation of cultural heritage, shifting focus from individual elements to broader, interconnected values. By analyzing legislative frameworks and urban development strategies, researchers demonstrate how integrated planning can mitigate threats to the route's historical integrity while balancing modern needs. This approach offers a scalable model for safeguarding UNESCO-listed sites facing similar challenges.
Aspectos del patrimonio cultural inmaterial jacobeo del Camino Francés a su paso por La Rioja y Castilla y León en "The way of Saint James", de Georgiana Goddard King
Georgiana Goddard King's seminal work, 'The Way of Saint James,' offers a pioneering exploration of the intangible cultural heritage associated with the Camino Francés, particularly focusing on its passage through La Rioja and Castilla y León. King's research reveals a rich tapestry of miracles, legends, and traditions that have been integral to the pilgrimage experience for centuries. By analyzing architectural and artistic motifs alongside these intangible elements, she provides a comprehensive understanding of the cultural significance embedded in this historic route. Her approach combines historical investigation with ethnographic observation, offering valuable insights into the enduring legacy of the Camino de Santiago.
Aportación del Camino de Santiago al desarrollo local: características territoriales y repercusiones económicas en el tramo palentino
The Camino de Santiago Francés, particularly through Palencia, has emerged as a vital resource for local economic development since the 2008 financial crisis and the 2010 Holy Year. While it generates wealth through pilgrim spending, its impact is insufficient to reverse population decline or combat aging demographics. The study, using primary and secondary data, fieldwork, and thematic cartographic representation, highlights the route's economic contributions but also underscores post-pandemic uncertainties, including the 2021/2022 Holy Year, which may negatively affect tourism infrastructure.
Becoming Self-Compassionate Step by Step — a Field Study on the Effect of Long-Distance Walking on Self-Compassion in Hikers Traveling the Camino Francés
A longitudinal field study found that hiking the Camino Francés significantly increases self-compassion among hikers, with effects persisting for at least six months. The increase was stronger in those who walked longer distances and experienced critical life events. Self-compassion also proved to be a stronger predictor of mood and life satisfaction over time than vice versa. The study suggests long-distance walking as an effective means to foster self-compassion, potentially useful in compassion training programs. Retrospective data further supported these findings, with a larger effect size (d = 0.56) compared to prospective measurements (d = 0.22).
Camino Francés y urbanismo en la Galicia medieval: el caso del antiguo burgo de Triacastela
A previously understudied medieval burgo, Santa María de Vilavella, emerged alongside a monastery catering to pilgrims on the Camino Francés. Its initial growth in the 12th century, tied to pilgrim transit and commerce, waned after King Alfonso IX of León established Triacastela—a strategically advantageous settlement—in the early 13th century. While Triacastela flourished as a fortified, crossroads hub, Santa María de Vilavella reverted to rural life, focusing on agro-pastoral activities. This study highlights the dynamic shifts in urban development along the Camino Francés, contrasting the rise and fall of two adjacent settlements through historical analysis of their spatial organization, economic roles, and architectural evolution.
Erromesbidea, el Camino en la toponimia vasca
The study reveals the enduring linguistic legacy of the Camino de Santiago in Basque toponymy, highlighting terms like 'Erromesbidea' (the pilgrims' road) and 'Arrozpidea' (the foreigners' path), which reflect historical pilgrimage routes. It also examines the displacement of local names by 'Santiago,' illustrating cultural assimilation. The research employs a toponymic analysis to trace these linguistic markers, focusing on regions like Álava and Navarre along the Camino Francés. This approach uncovers how place names encode centuries of religious and social history, offering insights into the linguistic and cultural evolution of the Basque Country.
Evaluation of Urban Sustainability in Cities of The French Way of Saint James (Camino de Santiago Francés) in Castilla y León according to The Spanish Urban Agenda
Valverde de la Virgen stands out as the most urban-sustainable city along the French Way of Saint James (Camino Francés) in Castilla y León, according to a study assessing six host cities using normalized indicators from the Spanish Urban Agenda. The research reveals significant disparities in sustainability performance, highlighting Valverde's strengths while identifying weaknesses and opportunities in Burgos, Astorga, Cacabelos, León, and Ponferrada. These findings provide actionable insights for localized or collaborative sustainability plans, leveraging the Camino's potential to address regional depopulation challenges. The study bridges global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with local urban realities, offering a diagnostic framework for targeted interventions.
Ad orientem: Las iglesias románicas del Camino Francés en los reinos de Castilla y León bajo la perspectiva de la Astronomía Cultural
Romanesque churches along the Camino Francés in the ancient kingdoms of León and Castilla predominantly align with the sunrise on Easter Sunday, likely determined through direct solar observation. While both regions share this orientation pattern, León exhibits a strong preference for the ecclesiastical equinox (March 21), unlike Castilla. This study analyzed 191 churches, comparing those along the Camino de Santiago to control samples in each kingdom, revealing distinct regional variations in astronomical alignment, particularly at notable sites like Santiago de Compostela and Sahagún.
Caminos de Santiago: una aventura europea
The Camino Francés, spanning nearly 800 kilometers through Spain, is part of a vast network of pilgrimage routes that have attracted travelers from across Europe and beyond for over a millennium. This study highlights the European dimension of the Camino de Santiago, tracing its historical significance as one of the three major Christian pilgrimages since the 9th century. It reveals that pilgrims from diverse regions—including Germany, Scandinavia, France, England, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Armenia—have contributed to the route's enduring legacy. The research approach combines historical analysis with a focus on the transnational nature of these paths, emphasizing their role in cultural and spiritual exchange.
Performing Pilgrimage, Mourning, and Transformation on the Camino de Santiago
A three-week pilgrimage along the Camino Francés, one of the most popular routes to Santiago de Compostela, revealed the transformative potential of the journey. The study found that walking 200 miles with nearly 40,000 other pilgrims in June 2016 demanded perseverance, improvisation, forgiveness, and faith, serving as a powerful metaphor for personal growth. Using performative autoethnography, the research traced this journey, highlighting its physical and emotional demands while emphasizing the Camino's role as both a literal path and a symbolic one for living. The findings underscore the Camino's unique capacity to foster transformation through collective and individual experience.
Análisis de posibles repercusiones del cambio climático sobre el Camino de Santiago Francés en su paso por Castilla y León (España)
Climate change is projected to significantly impact the French Way of Santiago (Camino Francés) in Castilla y León, Spain, with potential repercussions on pilgrim seasonality, health, local services, and cultural heritage. The study, based on IPCC-AR5 climate scenarios, predicts increased temperatures, prolonged heat waves, reduced rainfall, and more intense precipitation events. These changes could alter the route's conditions, necessitating proactive adaptation and resilience measures to mitigate adverse effects. By analyzing these projected climatic variations, the research aims to anticipate challenges and inform strategies for sustainable pilgrimage management.
Cultural Tourism in Social Media, the paradigm of the Camino de Santiago Francés
Regions along the Camino Francés, a historic pilgrimage route that has evolved into a significant tourist destination, are urged to optimize their use of Facebook for promotional purposes. A study analyzing official fan pages from Navarre, Aragon, La Rioja, Castile-Leon, and Galicia found that while social media offers substantial interactive potential, some regions underutilize these tools, hindering their positioning as competitive tourist destinations. The research employed performance indicators such as Presence/Visibility, Engagement/Interactivity, and Content, measured through the online analysis tool Fanpage Karma%, to assess the effectiveness of these platforms in tourism promotion.
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