Itinerary:
Daily distances are stated in the itinerary. Please keep in mind that we
have two guides. The group can split in two so one group may walk a
lesser distance at a slower pace. The support vehicle is on call
nearby for
anyone who needs it.
Day 1 -
Meet at the Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira at 1.00 PM. In the afternoon we have a walking tour to explore the old city of Porto, a
UNESCO World Heritage site. Set on the banks of the Douro River
(River of Gold) and near the Atlantic Ocean, the city is known for its port wine
that has been shipped around the world for centuries. The riverside quarter of Ribeira is delightful with picturesque
narrow streets. Fascinating sites include the Gothic church of St Francis.
Built in 1383, its columns are lined with gilded woodwork, cherubs, rose
garlands and frenzied animals dripping with gold. Other sites
include the romantic "Street of Flowers" with its wrought-iron
balconies, many port wine cellars offering tasting and the house where Henry the Navigator
(one of the great Portuguese explorers)
was born in 1394. Overnight in Porto. Our hotel is a four star property in a traditional building with an ideal location facing
the river in the old quarter of the city. DINNER
INCLUDED
Day 2 - This morning
our private bus takes us outside Porto to the village of Rates to start
our Caminho walk. This is the main interior Portuguese Caminho route.
Today the trail
is on forest track and rural road as we walk to the lively market town of Barcelos.
Gently undulating woodlands and charming villages alternate and we cross
well-preserved medieval bridges as we enter Barcelos with its attractive
main square. Barcelos is well known as a center of local handicrafts -
especially ceramics - and it is home to the legend behind Portugal's
national symbol, the rooster. The legend originated here as part of a
pilgrimage miracle. We have a chance to enjoy the town of Barcelos and
then our coach takes us to our hotel in nearby Braga. 16 km. DINNER INCLUDED
Day 3 -
Braga is known as the
ecclesiastical centre of Portugal and one of the most visited historic
sites. The
country's religious capital in the 11th century, the town has a splendid
cathedral begun in 1070 on the site of a church that had been previously
destroyed by the Moors. The town also boasts
a rich Roman heritage and today we have a
walking tour with an English-speaking historical guide. We visit many
fascinating sites including a museum that depicts how the
Portuguese nobility lived. In the afternoon we go to the
spectacular Bom Jesus Sanctuary. Here, a twin-towered neoclassical church
built in 1784 sits on top of a marvellous baroque staircase (175 steps) lined with chapels representing the Stations of
the Cross, the Stairway of the Five Senses, and the Stairway of the Three
Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity. Visitors can take an old-fashioned
funicular to the top but if you climb the monumental stairway you
appreciate the symbolism and the architecture. But Braga isn't just about
cathedrals and Roman ruins - it has
vibrant cafés and some of Portugal's finest
cuisine. Sample a deliciously warm and lightly crisped Bola Berlim (donut)
accompanied by a meia de leite (coffee).
Day 4 - Today we continue
our
Caminho walk along a mix of shaded lanes and quiet
country roads and we begin to see
the classic EU Caminho de Santiago signs.
Late in the afternoon we reach Ponte de Lima, a delightful market
town with a sleepy medieval atmosphere. From here our bus takes us a short
distance to the coast and the seaport Viana do Castelo where we stay at
the historic Pousada overlooking the sea. Viana
do Castelo enjoys a beautiful setting on the north bank of the Lima River
estuary. This was an important
seaport during the Portuguese Age of Discovery and,
in the days of colonial rule, goods from the Portuguese colony of Brazil
arrived in this harbour. But its history goes back much further than
colonial times. Legend says that
when Roman legions arrived here in the first century they were so
taken aback with the beauty of the landscape that they believed they were at the gates of
Paradise.
18 km
DINNER INCLUDED
Day 5 – In the days
of medieval pilgrims there were several routes through Portugal to
Santiago. Most of our walk is on the "interior" route but today we have
a taste of the coastal Caminho route with its wide open beaches,
rolling sand dunes and Atlantic waves crashing on the shore. In medieval
times this was the most popular route since it was impossible to get lost.
In theory this route is easier than the interior trail although walking in sand can add a
challenge. At the end of the day we return to the Pousada
(perhaps for a swim in the pool?) DINNER INCLUDED
Day 6 – Today our bus
takes us a short distance inland where we return to the central Caminho
route. We travel by bus to Sao Roque. From here we start at the
Roman bridge and continue on foot to Valenca passing along the shaded
banks of the River Coura, up an easy ascent to Alto San Bento, then a
pleasant descent to the Rio Pedreira and ending with a flat walk into
Valenca. The Pousada
Valenca is located inside the Fortelez (a medieval fortress)
and tucked away in a tangle of cobblestone streets and picturesque
squares. The hotel has beautiful views of the valley and river separating
Portugal and Spain. It also has an inviting swimming pool, terrace and bar
for those who want to relax after a day of walking. 21
km DINNER INCLUDED
Day 7 -
This morning we cross into Spain and the town of Tui with its impressive Romanesque Cathedral dating
from 1120. From Tui we
continue by bus to Porrino where the official 100 km Camino walk begins.
Today's walk has a steep hill up to Monte Coronedo but the reward is a lovely view of the sea in the
distance (and perhaps a cold drink and a good lunch). Then it is downhill to
Redondela. At the end of the
walk we take a side trip of a few km (by bus) to the coast to enjoy a night
at a luxurious seaside Parador in Baiona. 16 km.
DINNER INCLUDED
Day 8 -
This morning we return to the Camino
and continue walking from Redondela. The trail passes through eucalyptus forest
and along the way we pass a
Roman milestone marking the ancient Roman road Via XIX which linked the
coast to inland towns in the era of Roman occupation. We
cross the Rio de Vigo to Ponte Nova and in the afternoon have a lovely rural walk
to Pontevedra. This
is a lively Galician provincial capital with a delightful medieval area.
Overnight is at the Parador of Pontevedra which occupies a former palace in
the historic centre of the city.
18 km DINNER INCLUDED
Day 9 – Today is an easy day. In
the morning there is an optional walking tour of Pontevedra.
Sights
include the pilgrim chapel in the Praza da Peregrina, the historic Zona
Monumental (old city), the Praza de Leña, the market, and the Alameda ( a
promenade along the river). Or you may prefer a leisurely morning at the
Parador with a lunch in one of the many cafes. The
most famous product in the typical gastronomy of Pontevedra is shellfish
which is always accompanied by the typical local wine, Albariño.
In the afternoon we have an easy Camino walk from Pontevedra on small country
roads and tracks. There is a gentle climb at San Mauro and from here we
return (by bus) to Pontevedra for the night. 11
km DINNER INCLUDED
Day 10 -
Today we walk from San Mauro to the spa town Caldas de Reis
"The Royal Spa" where medieval pilgrims and kings both enjoyed
bathing their feet in a fountain fed by
natural hot spring water.
Caldas de Reis has been known since Celtic times for the healing
properties of the thermal
waters which have gushed from its ground. Ancient
monuments remain here and in a thermal spring we find an altar from the pre-Roman
age which is dedicated to the native god Edovio. Caldas de Reis was a major spa for Romans and has an abundance of Roman remains
including a Roman bridge that is still used.
In Reconquista times the town was known as Rex Calda and King Alphonso
VII was born here. Today it
is considered to be the garden and health resort of Galicia and there is
time to enjoy it before we move on.
From
Caldas de Rei we travel by bus for 20 minutes to reach our accommodation
at a lovely 4 star hotel in a restored
castle near the coast. The swimming pool here has no special
healing powers but it will feel good after a day of walking and the
beach is nearby. 12
km
Day 11 - In the
morning we return to Caldas de Reis and from here continue our Camino walk
to Padron. The route is on
quiet country roads and natural pathways with a few gentle climbs.
The name Padron means "mooring stone". Just up river
is Iria Falvia which is the town legend claims St James' body arrived in Spain
two thousand years ago. Under the altar in Padron's
Santiago Church one can see what is said to be the
original mooring stone for St James' boat. The legend
is that St James preached the gospel in Iberia as well as in the Holy Land
and that after his martyrdom his disciples carried the body by sea
to Iberia where they landed at Padron and took it inland for burial.
Historians agree this is quite possible. Another St James legend says
that, decapitated in Jerusalem by Herod
Agrippa himself, St James' headless body was taken up by angels then sailed in a
rudderless, unattended boat to Iria Flavia where a massive rock closed
around his relics.
Our accommodation tonight is the Pazo de Lestrove.
A “pazo” was a country estate of the Spanish nobility and usually
consisted of a stately manor house or castle surrounded by gardens and
outbuildings This pazo
has been converted to an atmospheric country hotel complete with swimming pool. Once
a country escape for the bishops of Santiago, the pazo now is known for
its excellent menu.
Typical
Galician cuisine includes empanadas and a typical local cheese called "queso de tetilla" (translated "cheese
breast"). The story goes that a particularly strict bishop ordered
the bare breasts on a statue in the Cathedral to be covered. His parishioners
obeyed but suddenly in all the Galician
shops a new form of cheese appeared shaped in the form of a breast and was
named "tetilla". 19
km DINNER INCLUDED
Day 12 - Our final walk is along pretty country lanes passing
through Iria Flavia as well as other small villages and hamlets before
arriving at the baroque sanctuary of A Esclavitude. On a hilltop to the
left stands the mysterious, abandoned ruins of the hillfort Castro Lupario
and a few kilometres later we come to the oldest wayside cross in Galicia.
As we near Agro dos Monteiros it is now possible to see the towers of
Santiago Cathedral. Finally, the Camino passes by the ruins of a castle
and enters Santiago. It is tradition
to head for the Cathedral, hug the statue of St James, collect the
Compostela certificate then relax and
celebrate. Our
hotel in Santiago is a historic former Franciscan convent that dates back
to the 1200's and has been carefully restored keeping its original
exterior but with an ultra modern interior complete with a heated pool
in what was once the convent laundry. We enjoy a farewell dinner in the
vaulted-ceilinged dining room that was once the convent refectory. The
three-course special menu comes from recipes provided by various
convents and includes "God's Garden" vegetable stew, a choice of fish or
lamb, and for dessert, Galician crepes made from the Sisters' secret
recipe. All accompanied by plenty of local wine of course.
24 km
For anyone who cannot walk 24 km this final day it is possible to walk
part way then continue to Santiago by bus. If they wish, the following day
they could return by taxi to their stopping point and thus complete the 24
km in two days (the cost of the taxi on the final day and an additional
hotel night would be extra). They would then qualify for the Compostela
certificate.
DINNER INCLUDED
Day 13 - Tour ends
after breakfast.
|