The Camino de Egeria: A Historic Pilgrimage Through Jordan

Walking tourActive turismFaisaliah Sub-District, Jordan

Description

Who Was Egeria?

Few people are familiar with the name Egeria, but she is one of the earliest known female travelers and writers in history—considered by many to be the first Galician-Spanish woman pilgrim and possibly the first Christian nun ever recorded. In 381 AD, Egeria undertook a solo pilgrimage to the Holy Land during the early years of the Byzantine Christian period, only one year after Emperor Theodosius I—himself of Galician origin—declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Egeria's travels took place only a few decades after Emperor Constantine and his mother, Saint Helena, first established Christian interest in the Holy Places around the Jordan River. She journeyed for three years across sacred lands, writing detailed letters to her fellow sisters back home. These writings, known as the Itinerarium Egeriae or Travels of Egeria, are of immense value to historians, geographers, linguists, and liturgists alike.

Her vivid descriptions of liturgical practices, topography, and personal devotion provide one of the earliest eyewitness accounts of Christian pilgrimage. They were written in Vulgar Latin, offering insight into the transition from Latin to early Romance languages, including Spanish.

The Route of the Camino de Egeria

Today, Egeria’s historic journey has been revived as the Camino de Egeria, a trail that traces the final two days of the broader John the Baptist Trail, beginning at Mount Nebo and concluding at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the site of Christ’s baptism.

The route passes several major biblical and archaeological sites:

Mount Nebo, the sanctuary of Moses overlooking the Dead Sea and the Promised Land.
Mousa Springs, believed to be near the location of Beth Peor.
The ancient Roman city of Livias (modern-day Al-Ramah)
The Roman road "Esbus-Jericho", part of the historic Via Nova Trajana.
Salem Springs, where John the Baptist may have been captured.
Kherbet Gharaba, with its baptism pools.
Elijah’s Hill and Al-Kharrar Valley, where hermits and early Christians once lived.
The Baptism Site at Bethany, the authentic site of Jesus’ baptism.

Egeria likely used the Roman road between Husban and Jericho—an ancient path also said to have been traveled by the three Magi. Along this road, remnants of Roman watchtowers, milestones, guest houses, and sections of original pavement remain visible.