ABSTRACT
Romara de donas was the name given to women's pilgrimages in Galicia. Archival records, as well as chronicles and patronage documents name the queens, noblewomen and abbesses who went to Santiago and other Galician sanctuaries as pilgrims. Likewise, the Vitae of some female saints highlight their pilgrimages and some of the circumstances of those journeys. During their journey, queens and noblewomen used to give alms and patronage to religious establishments, and once they reached their destination, they would give on the sanctuary cultic objects like crosses, gold and silver lamps and candles. While the long-distance pilgrimage was an extraordinary event in the life of any Christian, a journey imbued with renunciation, sacrifice and danger, the romara the pilgrimage to a local sanctuary had more of a festive air. The simple local folk would go to the nearby sanctuary or chapel during the romaras; events repeated every year to celebrate the saint's local festival or any of the main Christian festivities.
