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History of El Camino (click here for additional info about St. James Route)
The
Way of St. James or St. James' Way, often known by its Spanish name, el
Camino de Santiago, is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de
Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where legend has it that
the remains of the apostle, Saint James the Great, are buried.
YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
 Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents
* "Land Only" does not include airfare or airport transfers.
Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:
Day 1 - Depart USA Board your overnight transatlantic flights from your home town. Meals are served on board.
Day 02 – Arrive Madrid We will be greeted by our escort/driver. Transfer to the hotel. Time for resting. In the afternoon we will visit the Capital city of Spain. Madrid became Spain’s capital simply through its geographical position at the center of Iberia. When Felipe II moved the seat of government from Toledo to Madrid in 1561 his aim was to create a symbol of the unification and centralization of the country, and a capital from which he could receive fastest post and communications from each corner of the nation. Madrid’s main sights occupy a compact area between the Royal Palace and the beautiful gardens of El Retiro. The great trio of museums: the Prado (one of the oldest and greatest collections of art in the world: Bosch, Velazquez, Goya, Titian, El Greco, etc), Thyssen Bornemisza (like a walking through the history of the painting) and Reina Sofía (permanent gallery of modern Spanish art: Picasso, Dalí, Miró, Tapies, Chillida, etc); are ranged along the Paseo del Prado, over towards the Retiro park. The oldest part of the city, el Madrid de los Austrias, is centered on the gorgeous, arcaded Plaza Mayor, just to the east of the Royal Palace. Other interesting buildings and sights would be: Puerta del Sol, Gran Via Street, Cibeles fountain, Alcalá gate, the Spanish Square, etc. Dinner and overnight in Madrid
Day 03 - Madrid – Burgos - León After breakfast we will depart towards the city of Burgos. Burgos was for some five hundred years the capital of the Old Castile and with its dark stone old town and castle it remains redolent of these years of power and military strength. It has historic associations as the home of El Cid in the XI Century, and as the base of two centuries later of Fernando el Santo, the reconqueror of Murcia, Córdoba and Sevilla. It was Fernando who began the city’s famous Gothic cathedral, one of the greatest in all Spain. During the visit we will be able to see: the Arco de Santa María, originally this gateway formed part of the town walls, the Cathedral, the Huelgas Monastery, the Cartuja de Miraflores, the Castle, etc. We will continue our journey to Leon. The name of Leon comes from the Roman Times, The Roman Legion named the town Legio in AD 68 and derivations over years led the name to Leon or lion. The city amasses some of Spain’s most important historic-artistic monuments, like its Cathedral, a Gothic gem and a masterpiece of architecture with the best collection of stained-glass windows in Europe (only after Chartres). Next to the Cathedral, there is the Roman Saint Isidoro Basilica (eleventh and twelfth century), where Saint Isidoro of Seville tomb is kept; and the Saint Marcus Monastery, with its fantastic front in Plateresque style bedecked with shells (the symbol of the pilgrim). Dinner and overnight in Leon
Day 04 - León – Villafranca del Bierzo – O Cebreiro - Sarria Breakfast in the hotel. In the morning we will depart to Sarria. In our way we will walk a little bit to “warm” our legs. Part of our journey will follow the old Roman road that connected Ponferrada with the silver and gold mines located in Las Médulas. We will visit Villafranca del Bierzo, a town founded in the 11 C, where the Cluny Order had an important representation. We can enjoy the Collegiate Church of Santa María, built between the 13 and 16 C; the churches of Santiago (12 C) and San Nicolas, as well as the Agua Street, full of palaces and emblazoned houses. The Castle-Palace of the Marquisate is worthy of being visited. Later we will enter Galicia by Lugo, not far from Santiago. The first village in the region of Lugo along the Route is Cebreiro, with an altitude of 1,300 meters. A group of "pallozas" can be seen (Pre-Romanesque circular houses with straw roofs) and a beautiful Pre-Romanesque temple, from the 9-10 C, containing a Chalice, the Paten of "Santo Milagro" (Holy Miracle) and a precious Romanesque carving of Santa Maria la Real. At the end of the day we will arrive to Sarria. In this town, where Alfonso IX died in 1230, while making the pilgrimage, the old quarter retains a strong Medieval character. We can also visit the church of Salvador, with a Romanesque ground plan and Gothic façade; the small chapel of San Lazaro; the hospital of San Antonio, which today houses a Court; and the remains of its old fortress, from the 14 C. Dinner and overnight in Sarria.
Day 05 - Sarria - Portomarín (walking day, 21 kms) Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast we will go to the Pilgrim Office to request our Pilgrim Passport and we will start our walking pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. In the spirit of St James the Apostle we become authentic pilgrims journeying along an outer road (and the road within). Our walking trip will finish in Portomarin. The town, which dates back to the Roman Age, was an important halt along the Route in the Middle Ages. The old Portomarín lies beneath the waters of the dam built in 1962. But before flooding the town, many monuments were moved, stone by stone, somewhere else. Such was the case of the church-fortress of the Knights of San Juan of Jerusalem, who once run the old hospital that lies beneath the waters of the Miño river, along with the old Medieval and Roman bridges. The municipality also has the church of San Nicolás, from the 13 C; the portal of the church of San Pedro, from 1182; the Count’s House, from the 16 C, and the Palace of Berbetoros, from the 17 C. Dinner and overnight at Portomarin.
Breakfast in the hotel. From Portomarín we'll set off into the woods on our journey towards Palas de Rei, once an important town in the Middle Ages -it had a Royal Hospital- the church of San Tirso stands on its lands, with a Romanesque portal. On the hilly walk we'll continue through field and forest passing countless granaries, hórreos, and wayside crosses or cruceiros (usually depicting on once side Christ and the other the Virgin), both very characteristic of the Galician landscape. Evening at leisure. Optional visit to the Monastery of Vilar de Donas, the fine Romanesque temple that stands majestically is remarkable for its Gothic paintings from the 16 C, and the busts of the "donas" or ladies that founded the house and its central apse in the 14 C. The temple also treasures several sarcophagi of Knights of the Order of Santiago along with a stone retable that depicts the eucharistic miracle of O Cebreiro. Dinner and overnight at Palas de Rei.
Day 07 - Palas de Rei - Arzua (walking in the morning, 28 kms) Breakfast in the hotel. The walk sets off from Palas and ends up at a the bustling small town of Arzua, but before we finish our today’ stage we will visit Melide. This town is crucial to the Route, because it is the place where the French and the Oviedo Routes converge. At the entrance to the town there is a crossroads from the 14 C, one of the oldest in Galicia. The present Parish Church was the former church of the Monastery of Sancti Spiritus. It contains stately sepulchers. Worthy of note are also the small chapel of San Roque, with its transept from the 14 C, and the Romanesque church of Santa María. Today we also pass from Galicia's Lugo province to Galicia's A Coruña province. A Medieval bridge leads pilgrims to Ribadiso, before arriving at Arzua, the next halt on our journey. Surrounded by a beautiful scenery stands the Gothic Chapel of Magdalena, the only part of the old Augustinian monastery that has come down to us. The little town is famous nowadays for its Galician cheese factories. The chestnuts and oaks give way to eucalyptus. Dinner and overnight in Arzua.
Day 08 - Arzua - Arca do Pino/Rua (walking day, 20 kms) Breakfast in the hotel. We'll continue our trek to Arca do Pino, the largest community before Santiago, immersing ourselves in the fragrant eucalyptus groves. We'll picnic en route. After arrival in Arca, you can take a quiet walk around this village. The emotion is reflected in the pilgrims’ face, the tiredness accumulated during the pilgrimage does not become apparent. Many things are on the pilgrims minds: the list of all the sights to see in Santiago, the visit to the Apostle, the intention to pick up the document that certifies that the Route to Santiago has been made. Optional visit to the grandiose Monastery of Sobrado, Galicia’s first Cistercian monastery and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Renovations in the 17th and 18th centuries amply embellished the façade, church and side chapel. Dinner and overnight in Arca do Pino.
Breakfast in the hotel. We'll set out in the cool morning air to make the last and final stage of our journey to reach the famed city of Santiago. En route we'll stop for our picnic on the Monte del Gozo (Mount Joy) from which the spires of the Cathedral are first visible. We will soon arrive at the Cathedral, the destination we have been yearning to reach for a long time. This architectural masterpiece is the most important Romanesque monument After arrival in the Cathedral square and say thanks to God for taking care of us during our pilgrimage, we'll check into our hotel. Free time. Dinner and overnight in Santiago de Compostela.
Day 10 - Santiago de CompostelaBreakfast in the hotel. This morning we will visit and celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of St. James, one of the finest examples of architecture in all of Europe. Access to the Doorway of Glory is via the Obradoiro façade. Once in its interior, we will be carried away by the emotions produced by the sight of so many extraordinary valuable works of art. Tradition invites us to perform some rites: The most important and meaningful one is the hug to the Saint, go under the main altar and visit the crypt where the relics of St. James are preserved. Later on, comes the pagan rite of the bumps. It consists in reaching for a branch on the mullion, below the figure of the Sitting Apostle and, later making three wishes. On the other side of the column, there is another statue believed to impart wisdom and talents to whoever bumps his head against it. After lunch (on your own) we will continue our visit to the city of Santiago: Obradoiro Square, Fonseca Palace, Gelmirez Palace, Franco Street, etc. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Santiago de Compostela.
Breakfast in the hotel. In the morning we will say hasta luego (see you soon or good bye) to our new friends. We transfer to Santiago Airport for our return flights home to the USA
Important notice: this itinerary involves an average of 15-20 miles daily of walking/hiking. It is essential that participants be in fit condition in order to complete the journey. We will have assistance vehicles (motor coach) available to assist pilgirms who are unable to complete a particular leg of the journey.
Any questions? Call 800-206-TOUR - or - E-Mail Us
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Astorga
Castle of Cebolleros near Burgos
Stained Glass Windows
El Camino near Leon
Ponferrada
O Cebreiro
Santiago de Compostela
Cathedral of Santa Maria, Burgos
Market in Santiago de Compstela
Pilgrim walking in Burgos
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