What was the main Christian goal of pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela?

The story behind the answer

Medieval pilgrims journeyed across Europe to venerate the relics of the apostle James, believed to rest in the cathedral at Compostela. They sought his intercession for forgiveness, healing, and spiritual renewal, often undertaking the trek as an act of penance. While indulgences were sometimes granted, these were secondary to the devotional focus on the saint’s tomb.

The routes—collectively called the Camino—grew from a 9th‑century “discovery” of the shrine and soon became one of Christendom’s great pilgrimages, alongside Rome and Jerusalem. Waystations, hospitals, and monasteries sprang up to aid travelers, and the scallop shell became the emblem of the journey. Trade and cultural exchange flourished along the paths, but these were byproducts of a movement centered on sacred veneration, not commerce or proselytizing.