Introduction

ST. JAMES’ PATH WAY (LAST PART)

7 days / 6 nights – Burgos/Leon/Ponferrada/Santiago
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The route of art which begun more than nine centuries ago. Enjoy the last journeys and probably the nicest portion of the route: Burgos-Santiago

DAY 1 BILBAO-BURGOS

Arrival to Bilbao airport. If time available, we suggest a short visit to the Guggenheim Museum, which innovation architecture has become the symbol of the city. Departure to Burgos (125 kms, approx 1 hr 35 minutes). Here we connect with St James’ Path way. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 2 BURGOS-COVARRUBIAS-SANTO DOMINGO DE SILOS-BURGOS

Breakfast, dinner and overnight at hotel.
Morning guided city tour. We will visit a medieval village, which still maintains its original structure and in particular its cathedral, perhaps the best of Gothic Spain. Even a visit to the Cartuja (Charterhouse). Afternoon excursion to
COVARRUBIAS, nice village with middle age atmosphere in its streets. After we will visit Monastery…
STO. DOMINGO SILOS. (very important in middle age as center of wisdom and culture). Presently it is one of the few places in the world where you can enjoy Gregorian Chants, a ‘must’ for classic music lovers (timetable depends on season and day of the week). Return to the hotel.

DAY 3 BURGOS-FROMISTA-CARRION DE LOS CONDES-LEON

Breakfast at hotel. FROMISTA. Pure Romanesque style church in the route. Splendid!
CARRION CONDES. Santiago Temple and its Romanesque façade is worthy of a stop.
LEON. In the middle years of the Christian kingdom, this city became the capital. It is full of historical remains.
In the afternoon, guided tour, with its splendid Gothic cathedral, with its beautiful stained-glass windows and superb chapel of St. Isidoro.
Arrival to Leon. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 4 LEON-ASTORGA-CASTRILLO DE POLVAZARES-PONFERRADA

Breakfast at hotel.
ASTORGA. Time to visit the cathedral and Bishop Palace built by Gaudi –modernist architect-.
CASTRILLO POLVAZARES. Little village but very well preserved local architecture. It has been declared : National Monument
PONFERRADA. Remains of the castle of the Knights Templar, the enigmatic medieval warrior-monks.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 5 PONFERRADA-VILLAFRANCA-O’CEBREIROS-SOMOS-SARRIÁ-MONTE DO GOZO-SANTIAGO

Breakfast at hotel.
VILLAFRANCA. Small Romanesque churches, step on the path of Santiago.
O’CEBREIRO. There are still some Celtic houses, pre-roman, where animals and people used to live together to keep themselves warm and a hospital for pilgrims during the Middle Ages it was shelter from the snow and the wolves.
SAMOS. Important and majestic Benedictine Monastery.
SARRIÁ. Little medieval ensemble.
MONTE DO GOZO. First hill from where the Cathedral of Santiago can be seen. Here, we will understand medieval traveler’s emotion.
Arrival to Santiago. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 6 SANTIAGO

Breakfast, dinner and overnight in Hotel .
The city grew at the shadow of the cathedral, and the different bishops filled with churches in all art styles to compose a unique art ensemble declared ‘World Heritage Site’ by Unesco Morning guided city tour, we will visit the extraordinary Cathedral, its museum and concluded with a panoramic tour. Rest of the day at leisure.

DAY 7 SANTIAGO

Breakfast at hotel and Transfer to Santiago airport.

Other possibilities:

– This Itinerary could be available with slight modifications with arrival and departure through Madrid, Valladolid, Zaragoza or Santander airports, with 1 night more add at the end.
– This is a reasonable time for proposed program, if you have more time, the route is full of attractive places to be added.
– If you would like to walk and to feel as medieval traveler, this is the ideal route. Let us know number of days you want to walk (we suggest between 1 and 3 hours per day), and we will compose it for you. Obviously you will have to consider more time in the itinerary.