Maps

The amazing, but true antipodean story

Christchurch in Canterbury, New Zealand and Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain

Santiago de Compostela: population of approx. 100,000, (excluding a student population of nearly 40,000) the capital city of Galicia in north west Spain and located 600 km from Madrid (the Spanish capital) and forever linked to New Zealand’s second biggest city, Christchurch in New Zealand’s South Island by their antipodean connection to each other and 300 km from Wellington. They are because of that fact «sister cities».

How is this so?

In the 19th & 20th centuries “the Antipodes” specifically meant in the English context the furthest colonies and settlements you could have from England, “the mother country”. Christchurch’s name is very English whilst indicating its religious and educational antecedents.

Definition of “Antipodes”: a plural noun, defined as points diametrically opposite to each other on the earth. In other words: the furthest point you can physically go, whilst still remaining on the same planet (Earth).

Seven (7) kilometres from Arthur’s Pass, in Canterbury is the actual and precise mathematical/geographical antipodean point to Santiago de Compostela (confirmed by Geographx, Wellington www.geographx.co.nz). Christchurch (approximately 150 kilometres from Arthur’s Pass) is geographically linked forever to Santiago de Compostela.

Christchurch’s genesis is similar to Santiago de Compostela’s rise from the 9th century because of their heavily laden religious connotations and connections. Both cities are separated by 1,000 years.

On the other hand, Christchurch and Santiago de Compostela by their geographical locations have been linked since time immemorial. And, an amazing 20,000 kilometres in distance separates Christchurch from Santiago de Compostela.

Furthermore, because of their respective educational institutions and longstanding traditions, these two cities are also very dynamic and vibrant places attracting students from around the world.

An association of English settlers established the city of Christchurch in 1848. One of these English settlers, a certain John Robert Godley, having attended Oxford University at Christ Church, suggested the name “Christ Church”. Oxford University’s largest College and the Cathedral Church for the Anglican Diocese of Oxford (UK) was founded in 1524. In 1504, Pope Julius II approved the foundation of a university in Santiago de Compostela but "the bull for its creation was not granted by Clement VII until 1526” (Encyclopaedia Britannica: A New Survey of Universal Knowledge, 1956. Article Universities) and therefore overlapping the establishment of Christ Church in Oxford.

View Antipodal map of the world

The Camino de Santiago made Europe

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela was one of the main manifestations of European culture in the Middle Ages which was founded on Catholic/Christian traditions from the earliest times when most of Western, Central and Eastern Europe had been Christianised towards the end of Roman power and domination circa. 4th Century Common Era.

Saint James Way or now more commonly known as the Camino de Santiago had a major influence on the form of art and civilization in the various countries of Western Europe.

France during the Middle Ages developed four main pilgrimage routes and once over the Pyrenees (the natural, geographical barrier between France and Spain) converged into one route and called the French Route and now universally called el Camino Francés. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) through its vehicle the World Heritage Committee with their World Heritage Listing identified a massive number of built structures directly attributed to the Pilgrimage route from the Pyrenees all the way to Santiago de Compostela. The report stated that there are one thousand eight hundred (1,800) buildings along the route both religious and secular which have been identified as being associated with the Camino and pilgrimage.

This built environment is so culturally rich for modern day pilgrims that one could view the pilgrimage as simply the longest and most continuous museum crawl on earth!

The Camino de Santiago represents the birth and manifestation of Romanesque art and architecture. From the second half of the 12th century, came the Gothic cathedrals. There developed different chains of monasteries and castles. The Knights Templar castle in Ponferrada is an awe inspiring sight to behold. The expansion of existing cities, towns and villages whilst establishing newly built environments for just one purpose: supporting and assisting the pilgrim on his way to and from Santiago de Compostela. And not forgetting public works initiated by the various northern Spanish kingdoms and other entities created expressly for the Camino such as bridges, inns, hospitals and chapels.

The World Heritage Committee when it listed the Camino de Santiago (el Camino Francés) openly acknowledged that it is little changed from the Middle Ages. The report stated:

“The actual Route itself is well established and much of it survives the 20th century. About 10% of the original Route has been destroyed, and a further 10% lies beneath modern roads, but in many cases the modern road runs parallel to the ancient route.”

Quintessentially and most importantly, the Camino is a living pilgrimage route used by modern day pilgrims.

In a report/evaluation from the Advisory Body to the World Heritage Committee in 1993 it stated that: "The Route of Saint James is a unique example of its type which had a significant, even fundamental, influence on the consolidation of Western Europe.”

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