Burgos

Burgos was one of the pilgrimage sites on route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, home of the shrine dedicated to Saint James, the patron saint of Spain. The symbol of Saint James, the scalloped shell, became the primary symbol representing pilgrims. Various pilgrimage routes in the autonomous communities of Aragon, Navarre, and León correspond to old Roman roads built in the northern portion of the Iberian Peninsula. Burgos was first settled in 884 and rapidly grew with the establishment of the Kingdom of Castile. It was an important rest area for pilgrims because it is geographically situated at the conjunction of two different pilgrimage routes. The earliest record of hospices in Burgos is found in the 11th century. The Cathedral of Santa María in Burgos was founded by Ferdinand III of Castile in 1221. Between 1808 and 1813, Burgos was under French occupation during the Peninsular campaign of the Napoleonic Wars and in 1813 it was captured by the British. In July of 1936, Burgos became the official seat of the Nationalist government of General Francisco Franco. Historic sites in Burgos include the Cathedral of Santa María, the parish church of Santiago, the church of San Esteban, the Hospice of San Juan, and the Hospitals del Emperador, del Rey, de los Malatos, and of San Juan del Puente.