{"id":3797,"date":"2026-10-14T11:29:53","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T11:29:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/?p=3797"},"modified":"2026-10-14T11:29:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T11:29:59","slug":"trades-linked-to-the-camino-de-santiago-history-of-jacobean-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/blog\/trades-linked-to-the-camino-de-santiago-history-of-jacobean-jobs\/","title":{"rendered":"Trades linked to the Camino de Santiago: history of Jacobean jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why did the Camino de Santiago generate its own trades?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Camino de Santiago contributed to the creation of its own trades, thanks to the constant demand for services along the route. Pilgrims needed accommodation, food, care, transport and spiritual assistance. In the Middle Ages, the Camino de Santiago became an industry that gave work to thousands of people.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, the Camino was a route for the transit of goods and people, which supported the growth of trades linked to commerce and transport. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trades linked to the Camino de Santiago: hospitality and assistance<\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/458-3-1024x576.avif\" alt=\"Trades linked to the Camino de Santiago\" class=\"wp-image-3785\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/458-3-1024x576.avif 1024w, https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/458-3-300x169.avif 300w, https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/458-3-768x432.avif 768w, https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/458-3-1536x864.avif 1536w, https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/458-3.avif 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first <strong>trades linked<\/strong> to the Camino de Santiago that emerged were <strong>hospitality and assistance<\/strong> to pilgrims. Since the Middle Ages, hospitals, hostels and inns were responsible for caring for pilgrims who were tired, ill or without resources. Today, these trades have evolved, but they are the most important part of the Camino.<br\/><br\/>  <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The medieval hospitalero<\/strong>: He was responsible for welcoming, caring for and attending to pilgrims in the hospitals along the route.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Sanjuanista<\/strong>: A member of the Order of Saint John, they specialised in caring for sick pilgrims.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The hostel keeper<\/strong>: He was in charge of the hostels and inns that provided shelter for pilgrims.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The innkeeper<\/strong>: Owner of the inns where pilgrims ate and rested.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The volunteer hospitalero<\/strong>: Heirs to the medieval tradition, they can be found running hostels today.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The trades of construction and maintenance of the routes<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Camino de Santiago would not exist as we know it without the <strong>trades linked to<\/strong> construction and maintenance. The work of these people helped make it possible for pilgrims to move forward safely. Here are the trades linked to construction and maintenance:  <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The builder of bridges and roads<\/strong>: He was responsible for crossing rivers and repairing the paths, thus making it easier for pilgrims to pass.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The stonemason<\/strong>: A craftsman who worked stone to build infrastructures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The master builder<\/strong>: He directed the constructions and coordinated the guilds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The signposter<\/strong>: Responsible for signposting the route, from the yellow arrows to the markers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trades linked to the Camino de Santiago: transport and commerce<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It should be borne in mind that the Camino de Santiago, besides being a pilgrimage route, was also a route for commerce and transport. This situation generated <strong>trades linked to transport and commerce<\/strong>, since pilgrims needed provisions. <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The muleteer<\/strong>: He transported goods and luggage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The ferryman<\/strong>: He was responsible for taking pilgrims and their luggage across rivers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The blacksmith<\/strong>: He looked after the horses&#8217; shoes and repaired the pilgrims&#8217; tools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The merchant<\/strong>: He sold the provisions the pilgrims needed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trades linked to the Camino de Santiago: religious and spiritual service<\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/456-3-1024x576.avif\" alt=\"Trades linked to the Camino de Santiago\" class=\"wp-image-3786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/456-3-1024x576.avif 1024w, https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/456-3-300x169.avif 300w, https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/456-3-768x432.avif 768w, https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/456-3-1536x864.avif 1536w, https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/456-3.avif 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the Camino de Santiago, pilgrims needed spiritual support, giving rise to religious trades that accompanied pilgrims in their faith. These are the main <strong>religious trades linked<\/strong> to the Camino de Santiago. <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The chaplain<\/strong>: He provided mass, confession and spiritual care to pilgrims.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The bell ringer<\/strong>: He rang the bells to mark the hours.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The sacristan<\/strong>: He was responsible for the care of the temple, the liturgical objects and the relics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The hospitaller monk<\/strong>: He cared for pilgrims in the monasteries and hospitals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trades linked to the Camino de Santiago today<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, the Camino de Santiago continues to generate employment and trades, adapted to the needs of the modern pilgrim. Although many old trades have disappeared, others have been transformed and new ones have emerged thanks to new demands. <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The volunteer hospitalero<\/strong>: They run the hostels along the Camino de Santiago, maintaining the tradition of Jacobean hospitality. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The guide and pilgrim companion<\/strong>: They provide guiding and support services to pilgrims.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The backpack carrier<\/strong>: A service that transports pilgrims&#8217; luggage from hostel to hostel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The artisan and seller of Jacobean souvenirs: They are responsible for selling Jacobean souvenirs, such as shells, yellow arrows, credentials and other objects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The manager of accommodation and tourist services<\/strong>: Hotels, country houses and restaurants specialising in pilgrims.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why did the Camino de Santiago generate its own trades? The Camino de Santiago contributed to the creation of its [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3796,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sin-categorizar"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3797"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3797\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3909,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3797\/revisions\/3909"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elcaminoapedales.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}