An exclusive edition of the Codex Calixtino is released, the great medieval Jacobean jewel
He Codex Calixtinus, considered the most important work in the history of Camino de Santiago, is once again the protagonist almost nine centuries after its creation. The Cathedral of Santiago has presented a new facsimile edition of this medieval jewel from the 12th century, a reproduction of the highest quality that will allow one of the most valuable manuscripts in Europe to be brought closer to researchers, collectors and lovers of Jacobean heritage.
The edition has been limited to only 500 numbered copies, produced through a complex process of photographic reproduction and chromatic adjustment directly on the original manuscript to guarantee the maximum possible fidelity. Each volume reproduces textures, folds, colors and details of the codex preserved in the Archive of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
The first travel guide to the Camino de Santiago
Long before there were digital maps, mobile applications or tourist guides, the Calixtinus Codex already offered information to pilgrims traveling to Santiago. Its pages described routes, bridges, hospitals, cities, local customs and advice for those undertaking the Jacobean pilgrimage. For this reason, it is considered the first great guide to the Camino de Santiago.
In addition to the famous Pilgrim's Guide, the manuscript brings together stories about miracles attributed to the Apostle Santiago, liturgical texts, hymns, sermons and historical documents that help to understand the birth of the Jacobean phenomenon and European cultural identity itself.
A treasure recognized by UNESCO
The importance of the Calixtinus Codex transcends the religious sphere. In 2017 it was incorporated by UNESCO into the Memory of the World Register for being part of the most relevant documentary testimonies in the history of humanity.
During the presentation of this new edition, the archbishop of Santiago highlighted that the codex can be considered one of the founding documents of European consciousness that emerged during the Middle Ages, when thousands of pilgrims began to travel the paths that connected different territories of the continent.
An edition for collectors and lovers of the Camino
Each copy has around 450 pages, decorated leather binding, color miniatures and a special conservation case. The project has been developed in collaboration with the Archive-Library of the Cathedral of Santiago and specialists in the reproduction of historical manuscripts.
The appearance of this new edition represents a unique opportunity to rediscover the book that helped build the legend of the Camino de Santiago and that continues to inspire millions of pilgrims around the world more than eight centuries after it was written.
