José A. ORTIZ BAEZA
President of the Association of Friends of the Caminos de Santiago de Madrid
Director journal Peregrino

ABSTRACT
What we know as the Camino de Santiago is one of the three major Christian pilgrimages: to Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago; and the three the only one that has lasted continuously over time. In the twelfth century, when more than 200.000 people annually pilgrimage to Compostela, written for the Cathedral of Santiago Codex Calixtinus, singular medieval codex and Hispanic literature gem.

The text describes each of the five books of the Codex Calixtinus, including the Breviary or Missal, the Book of Miracles, the Book of Translation and Turpini History in the top four. Book V, called the Pilgrim's Guide, describes and comments throughout the itinerary of the Way of Santiago from the entry into Spain through the Pyrenees, also including a range of information and useful advice for pilgrims.

The article ends with a description of the main Jacobean associations, and with two annexes dedicated to the name that had populations crossed by the road in the twelfth century, and a brief description of the different Caminos de Santiago and its main features: French, Primitivo, Vasco, North, Plate, Portuguese, English, etc.

Keywords: Codex Calixtinus, Camino de Santiago, French Camino, Santiago de Compostela, Liber Sancti Iacobi, Compostela, Jacobean Association.