DAY 1 – SANTIAGO AIRPORT/SARRIA
Assistance upon arrival and transfer to Sarria (100 kms). We will bring you the credential of the Camino, called ‘The Compostela’.
Accommodation.
The crown jewel of Spanish walking trails, the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela began as an act of faith as Europeans crossed Spain to visit the sacred tomb of Saint James. One thousand years later, the Camino continues to draw the spiritual as well as the traveler looking to enjoy the beauty of the green rolling hills and small hamlets of northwestern Spain’s Galicia.
Assistance upon arrival and transfer to Sarria (100 kms). We will bring you the credential of the Camino, called ‘The Compostela’.
Accommodation.
After breakfast, we will start crossing Barbadelo, where to admire Church of Santiago, which was declared a National
Monument. The next village are Rente, followed by Mercado de Serra, a humble village in which usually Jews came to negotiate and deliver goods to the pilgrims. Continue the route to Brea, Ferreiros, Rozas… and Vilachá, rural farming villages where there are the ruins of the Loio Monastery, origin of Medieval Knights of the Order of Santiago. Too, it’s remarkable Sta María de Loio chapel with Visigothic walls (before 7th century). We arrive at Portomarín, where the old village remains buried under the water after the construction of the dam.
Accommodation
After breakfast, the pilgrim returns to the Camino through Gonzar, Castromayor, Hospital da Cruz, Ventas de Naron,
Lameiros, where you can stop to visit the Chapel of San Marco and admire a beautiful transept. The route crosses Ligonde, Ebbe, Albergo, Portos, Lastedo and Valos before reaching Palas de Rei, our goal today.
Accommodation
After breakfast, we enter in the province of “A Coruña”, crossing San Xulián, Pontecampaña, Casanova, Coto, Leboreiro, which preserves an ancient Roman road; Furelos, Melide (where locals say you can the best octopus ‘at the Galician style’ in the world ). Here we join with those coming from North route to Santiago from Oviedo. We will carry on by Carballal, Ponte das Penas, Raido, Bonete, Castaneda, Ribadiso, to reach Arzúa,
the end of our journey.
Accommodation
After breakfast we will start walking through Las Barrosas,
Calzada, Calle, Salceda, Brea and Santa Irene, and we will finish the route today in A Rua.
Accommodation
The great day has come …. We will begin the last journey to reach Santiago. . At this point, you will have been able to
admire the countless wonders along the Camino as a result of day by day pass of people. The route crosses tiny villages Burgo, Arca, San Antón, Amenal and San Paio. Then you get to Lavacolla, a village where centuries ago pilgrims washed and changed new cloths before entering in Santiago. Villamalor , San Marcos and Monte do Gozo (=mount of happiness,) where the bell tower of the Cathedral of Santiago can be seen for first time. Finally we reach SANTIAGO. Now it’s time to follow the traditions: We will go to majestic sculpture in the Portico de la Gloria inside the cathedral, to look for Maestro Mateo figure (he was the artist), and give three small bumps on the head of the sculpture ‘’ to get wisdom and intelligence is sent to you’’. Afterwards, you will visit Santiago’s burial in the crypt and finally the popular hug to the Santiago sculpture in the main altar..
Accommodation
Breakfast. Santiago is a beautiful and vibrant city and of course you can add more days to enjoy it. Walk by the narrow streets. Or visit the old market, where you can buy the fresh fish and sea food and you can get they cook it for you in the bar inside market. Or simply relax and have a cup (not a glass!) of Riberio wine in whatever old tavern to remind inimitable experience for the mind and body, you have lived.
Now learn the magic word you will hear and repeat thousands of times when you meet someone along the route…
BUEN CAMINO!