The Camino de Santiago is an ancient path from St Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, walked by ten of thousands of pilgrims since medieval times. Also known as the Way of St James and the Camino Frances, it covers a distance of almost 800km. To absorb the history, to touch the old stone of the buildings and bridges, to walk the path built over the centuries, to see the variety if architectural styles, from Roman and Moorish to medieval, to Gothic and Renaissance, and to be immersed in some of the most breathtakingly beautiful landscapes - is a journey for heart and soul. For many, the Camino is undertaken with a clear purpose, whether personal, emotional or spiritual. To others it is a challenge in terms of fitness and stamina, to achieve a goal. For experience trekkers Kim and Malcolm Wells, it became a powerfully spiritual journey, and the common bond of peace and friendship formed amount the many pilgrims they met was one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience.

This guidebook describes the Way of St Francis a 550km month-long pilgrimage trail from Florence through Assisi to Rome. Split into 28 day stages, the walk begins in Florence and finishes in the Vatican City. Stages range from 8km to 30km with plenty to see, including ancient ruins, picturesque towns, national treasures, and stunning churches. This comprehensive guidebook fits in a jacket pocket or rucksack, and contains information on everything from accommodation and transport in Italy, to securing your credential (pilgrim identity card), budgeting, what to take, and where to do laundry. Stories of Francis of Assisi's life are also included. Although the route includes climbs and descents of up to 1200m, no special equipment is required - although your hiking boots and socks definitely need to get along. Following the steps of heroes, conquerors and saints on this pilgrim trail is manageable all year round, but is best done from April to June and mid-August to October. Route maps are given for every stage, and basic Italian phrases are included in the guidebook.

Unlike the religiously-oriented pilgrims who visit Marian shrines such as Lourdes, the modern Road of St. James attracts an ecumenical mix of largely wel.

The legend says that the Milky Way has been the path set by the Santiago Apostle since the Middle Ages, to guide pilgrims on the Camino until they reach his resting place. Indeed, the name of Compostela comes from Campus Stellae (a field of stars). In 2017, I had the opportunity to do the famous "Camino de Santiago" and, after walking over 850Km, I arrived. They were intense and moving 30 days, where I walked, laughed, and cried a lot. I met people from all over the world, but perhaps, the most important thing was that I got to know myself better. Without realising, it became an internal journey more than something external. During those days, I discovered how little I needed to be happy. Whoever had the possibility of doing the Camino and becoming a pilgrim, would surely understand. To all the rest, I hope with all my heart that this book moves you to do it. You will not regret it. "BUEN CAMINO"

Years ago an overachieving and harried young mother accidentally flushed her gold watch down the toilet. Time passed, but the image of the lost watch continued to haunt her, a symbol of an overcommitted life. Two decades later, propelled by a series of curious coincidences, she leaves behind her busy professional life, her cell phone, and her family to escape the tyranny of time and walk five hundred miles across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. Steps Out of Time brings the mysterious and wonderful world of the Camino to life with its tales of serendipitous encounters, new friends made (and one tragically lost), stunning natural beauty, and unforgettable food. By the end of her journey, an exhausted and exhilarated Katharine Soper is keenly aware that she has completed much more than a month-long walk.

The Camino de Santiago, the Route of Saint James, the Way--all describe a pilgrimage with multiple routes that pass through Spain and end at the Cathedral of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela. In the 21st century, this medieval tradition is seeing a revival with travelers, both spiritual and secular, who embrace it for different reasons. Offering insight into the personal journeys of contemporary pilgrims, this collection of new essays explores cultural expressions of the Camino from the perspective of literature, film and graphic novels, and looks beyond Spain and the "Caminoisation" of other historical routes.

2018 ECPA Christian Book Award Winner 2018 Christopher Award Winner Two best friends, 500 miles, one wheelchair, and the challenge of a lifetime. Friendship takes on new meaning in this true story of Justin and Patrick, born less than two days apart in the same hospital. Best friends their whole lives, they grew up together, went to school together, and were best man in each other’s weddings. When Justin was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disease that robbed him of the use of his arms and legs, Patrick was there, helping to feed and care for him in ways he’d never imagined. Determined to live life to the fullest, the friends refused to give into despair or let physical limitations control what was possible for Justin. So when Justin heard about the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile trek through Spain, he wondered aloud to Patrick whether the two of them could ever do it. Patrick’s immediate response was: “I’ll push you.” I’ll Push You is the real-life story of this incredible journey. A travel adventure full of love, humor, and spiritual truth, it exemplifies what every friendship is meant to be and shows what it means to never find yourself alone. You’ll discover how love and faith can push past all limits—and make us the best versions of ourselves.

A story of mid-life and second chances from Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project, and his wife Anne Buist Soon to be a film produced by Ellen DeGeneres Two misfits walk 2,000 kilometres along the Camino de Santiago to find themselves and, perhaps, each other along the way. Zoe, a sometime artist, is from California. Martin, an engineer, is from Yorkshire. Both have ended up in picturesque Cluny, in central France. Both are struggling to come to terms with their recent past—for Zoe, the death of her husband; for Martin, a messy divorce. Looking to make a new start, each sets out alone to walk two thousand kilometres from Cluny to Santiago, in northwestern Spain, in the footsteps of pilgrims who have walked the Camino—the Way—for centuries. The Camino changes you, it’s said. It’s a chance to find a new version of yourself. But can these two very different people find each other? In this smart, funny and romantic journey, Martin’s and Zoe’s stories are told in alternating chapters by husband-and-wife team Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist. Two Steps Forward is a novel about renewal—physical, psychological and spiritual. It’s about the challenge of walking a long distance and of working out where you are going. And it’s about what you decide to keep, what you choose to leave behind and what you rediscover.