Puente de la Maza

Puente de la Maza - Wikicommons

The Camino de Santiago is, without a doubt, one of the most unforgettable adventures you can experience in life. It is a journey thousands of years old, and on its way we can be transported to a remote era thanks to the remains and architectural monuments that have survived the passage of time. 

Although the only thing that has changed are the reasons for doing the Camino de Santiago, it is still an experience that is worthwhile. The different Jacobean routes take us to magical places that, if we look back and learn about their history, will make us look at them with different eyes. The history of the Camino de Santiago begins with the discovery of the remains of the apostle St. James the Greater, and from here one of the most important social phenomena in Europe was unleashed. 

The Catholic Monarchs were true devotees of the Camino de Santiago

In the Middle Ages, both kings and nobles took it upon themselves to improve the conditions of the roads to make the pilgrims' journey much safer. The Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Ferdinand V of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, were two of the monarchs most involved in the Camino de Santiago, as there are records of them declaring themselves as true devotees of the apostle St. James. 

It is for this reason that pilgrims can be amazed by the Puente de la Maza in San Vicente de la Barquera, a small municipality located on the western coast of Cantabria. Thanks to the preservation of architecture, you can enjoy a bridge built in the 16th century by order of the Catholic Monarchs. The medieval structure allows you to walk into the town, but you can also visit the beaches if you walk in the opposite direction.