Camino Mozárabe

The Camino Mozárabe represents the oldest documented pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, walked by the Mozarabs—Christians living under Islamic rule in Al-Andalus. These routes from Málaga, Granada, and Córdoba converge at Mérida, where they join the Vía de la Plata for the final journey north to Santiago.

📜 History & Significance

The Mozarabs (from Arabic musta'rib, "Arabized") were Christians who maintained their faith while living in Islamic Spain. Enjoying relative religious freedom under Muslim rule, they developed a devotion to St. James that predated the Christian Reconquista. Archaeological evidence from Córdoba confirms Mozarabic pilgrims reached Compostela by the 12th century.

These routes follow ancient Roman roads that connected Andalusia to the north. The pilgrimage expressed both spiritual devotion and cultural identity, as the Mozarabs saw Santiago as their "visible heavenly help" and "liberator." This is considered the oldest itinerary to Santiago, predating the French routes.

🥾 Route Overview

Three main routes depart from Andalusia: from Granada (385 km to Mérida), Málaga, and Córdoba. All three converge at Baena in Córdoba province before continuing as a single path to Mérida. The Granada route covers approximately 16 days of walking in 28 stages averaging 20-30 km each.

The landscape transitions from the Mediterranean coast and the Alpujarras foothills through the olive groves and white villages of Andalusia to the Roman cities of Extremadura. From Mérida, pilgrims join the Vía de la Plata for the remaining 1,000 km to Santiago.

☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites

Antequera - Gateway to the route from Málaga, with prehistoric dolmens, the Muslim Alcazaba, and the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor.

Córdoba - The Mezquita-Cathedral, once the greatest mosque in the West, converted to a cathedral in 1236, where Mozarabic pilgrims began their journey north.

Lucena - Historic city with significant Jewish heritage, on the route from Granada to Baena.

Baena - The convergence point where all three Andalusian routes unite before continuing to Mérida.