During the 125 km long journey, two things stood out the most.
1. The Shell (Attachment 1)
Before we began our hike, each of us received a shell. Over the next five days, I noticed a shell hanging from the backpack of almost every pilgrim.
The shell and the red cross represent the pilgrimage and its Christian heritage. The shell symbolizes the journey to Santiago and the many different paths that lead to a single destination.
In the Middle Ages, pilgrims who reached Santiago often obtained a scallop shell from the Galician coast and wore it as a sign that they had completed the pilgrimage. The shell eventually became a recognizable symbol of the pilgrim.
2. The Granary (Attachment 2)
Hórreo de Carnota – one of the most famous traditional granaries in Galicia, in northwestern Spain. It was built in 1768.
Galicia is famous for its green landscapes, frequent rain, traditional villages, and distinctive stone architecture. Hórreos are a particularly recognizable part of this landscape. The municipality of Carnota alone has approximately 900 hórreos, although most are much smaller than this one.
Throughout
Galicia, these granaries demonstrate how local people adapted buildings to
their environment. Their stone construction made them durable, their raised
design helped protect stored food from moisture and pests, and their
ventilation allowed crops to dry in a damp climate.
