The Compostela At Last!

The "Compostela" is the official pilgrim's certificate awarded by the Catholic Church in Santiago de Compostela upon completion of the Camino de Santiago. It is more than just a certificate, however. The Compostela is a centuries-old symbol of perseverance, faith, exhaustion, blisters, shared meals, wrong turns, and the quiet determination that carries pilgrims all the way to Santiago de Compostela. Written entirely in Latin, the document officially recognizes that a pilgrim has completed the pilgrimage by walking at least the final 100 kilometers on foot or horseback, or the final 200 kilometers by bicycle.Long before printed certificates existed, pilgrims proved they had completed their journey by carrying home a scallop shell badge purchased in Santiago. The shell quickly became the universal symbol of the Camino — but it also became a tempting opportunity for counterfeiters. Fake badges began appearing at the city gates, sold to travelers who wanted the appearance of having…