The Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage route that can be initiated from different starting points in several European countries which all lead to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compstela in Galicia, Spain.

Malta is now officially one of the starting points of one of the three great pilgrimages of Christendom, with a route named Camino Maltés.  

The route of the pilgrimage as whole is around 3,600km long and includes other Mediterranean islands and cities such as Sicily, Sardinia and Barcelona.

The Maltese segment of the Camino Maltés route is approximately 35km long. It starts at Saint Paul’s Grotto in Rabat, then on to Żejtun, Fort St Angelo in Birgu and finally across the harbour to Valletta where pilgrims can catch the ferry to Sicily.

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A marker pointing towards Galicia in Spain will be placed near the entrance to Fort St Angelo, indicating it as the final local stop along the Camino Maltés before setting off towards Sicily.

Fort St Angelo was chosen as the homing entity of the milestone because of what it represents.

This included the links to the Knights of St John, the service and raison d’être of the Order itself, the maritime routes, its position in the Grand Harbour, its link with Birgu, the Three Cities and Valletta, as well as local pilgrimages and what they represent.

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