San Nicolás del Real Camino
San Nicolás del Real Camino is a small village with historical significance on the Camino de Santiago. The village is named after Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of pilgrims, which highlights its ... Read full notes connection to the pilgrimage route. Situated in the province of Palencia, Castilla y León, it was founded in the 12th century by King Alfonso VI of León, who granted the land to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights Hospitaller. The Knights Hospitaller played a crucial role in providing assistance and protection to the pilgrims traveling along the Camino de Santiago. They established a hospice in San Nicolás del Real Camino, which offered shelter, food, and medical care to the weary pilgrims. The village was also an important stop for medieval pilgrims due to its strategic location near the border of the Kingdom of León and the Kingdom of Castile. Today, San Nicolás del Real Camino maintains its historical charm, with its traditional architecture and a restored church dedicated to Saint Nicholas.
