City's pilgrimage route milestone unveiled
BBCA new milestone to mark a city's place on an international pilgrimage route has been unveiled.
The granite marker, that was shipped from Spain and is now located at the former Holyrood Church in Southampton, Hampshire, recognises the city as part of the Camino de Santiago network of pilgrimages.
They all lead to the shrine of St James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, 647 miles from the south coast.
The waymarker was officially unveiled on Monday by officials from the city, alongside others from the Galician authorities and other bodies.
The project has been developed in partnership with the Confraternity of St James, the UK charity that supports and promotes the Camino de Santiago and has led work to establish St James' Way between Reading and Southampton.
Pilgrims have travelled from across Europe to Santiago de Compostela since the Middle Ages.
It is thought the Camino Inglés - or English Way - attracts about 35,000 pilgrims every year. That includes St James' Way.
The 14th Century Holyrood Church is known as the Church of the Sailors and is a memorial to the Merchant Navy following its destruction in World War Two.
Nina Barough, from Wokingham, Berkshire, set off with friends from Reading on Thursday and they finished the St James' Way in Southampton on Sunday.
"We don't give ourselves any space these days. We're always moving onto the next thing or living in the future," she said.
"We were all saying on the route, when you're walking and you're on a pilgrimage like that, you have to be in the moment. You can't get involved with things that are outside [your control] because you can't do anything about them.
"I think it's really good for the soul, good for friendship."
Sonja and Jon Davison, from Eastleigh, started and completed the Camino Inglés in memory of Sonja's late father and have completed several Caminos since.
"The Camino will give you everything so it's lovely. You meet some gorgeous people along the way," Jon said.
"You just focus on each day. You see everything around you, every little thing around you," Sonja added.
