El Camino Walk

13 DAYS THE WAY OF ST JAMES El Camino Walk DEPARTS: 5 October 2019 13 DAY ITINERARY – Madrid • El Camino de Santiago • Santiago de Compostela Sarria and our accommodation. of the church of San Pedro, from 1182; IMPORTANT NOTE the Count’s House, from the 16th century, Even though this is stated as a DAY 4: TUESDAY 8TH OCTOBER – and the Palace of Berbetoros, from the walking pilgrimage, the group will be TRIACASTELA TO SARRIA (20 KM’S) (BD) 17th century. supported with a bus to carry luggage We will be transferred to Triacastela DAY 6: THURSDAY 10TH OCTOBER – and transport pilgrims who may this morning. We will walk via the tiny PORTOMARIN TO PALAS DE REI require respite at times along the way. village of Samos, wrapped around the (24 KM’S) (BD) enormous Benedictine Monastery that we will visit and where we will celebrate Passing through small villages decorated MEAL CODE Mass. Continuing on the Route we will pass with cruceiros (carved stone crosses that B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner through a picturesque scene full of oaks mark the way to Santiago) and containing and chestnut trees. only a dozen houses, we will meet other DAY 1: SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER – peregrinos on today’s hilly walk. ARRIVE MADRID (D) The end of the stage brings us back in Sarria. It was in this town that Alfonso IX Although we all share a special quest and a Upon arrival at Madrid’s Barajos airport we died in 1230, while making the pilgrimage. sense of camaraderie with fellow pilgrims will be met and transferred to our centrally Visit the old quarter which retains a strong from around the world, there are always located accommodation to rest and medieval character. We will also see the moments of solitude to contemplate this prepare for this special walk. Church of Salvador, with a Romanesque special journey. The undulating countryside Note: There will be a one way transfer from ground plan and Gothic façade; the small is studded with meadows and forests of Madrid Airport at 10am. All other transfers chapel of San Lazaro; the hospital of San eucalyptus and pine as we approach Palas will be at an additional cost. Antonio, which today houses a Court; and de Rei. This was once an important town in the Middle Ages as it had a Royal Hospital. DAY 2: SUNDAY 6TH OCTOBER – the remains of its old fortress, from the The Church of San Tirso now stands on its (BD) 14th century. MADRID lands, with a Romanesque portal. Following Mass this morning we enjoy a DAY 5: WEDNESDAY 9TH OCTOBER – Madrid walking tour where we will visit SARRIA TO PORTOMARIN (22 KM’S) (BD) DAY 7: FRIDAY 11TH OCTOBER – REST DAY (BD) the Cathedral, view the Royal Palace, walk Today’s section of the Camino is considered through the , Plaza Mayor Puerta del Sol to be one of the most picturesque. Walk Today following Mass you have the day to and also visit the Church of Saint James. through bucolic countryside, traversing rest your feet. You can take this time to Remainder of the day at leisure. enchanted forests and small patches of reflect on your journey so far. DAY 3: MONDAY 7TH OCTOBER – farmland to the banks of the Mino River. DAY 8: SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER – FONCEBADON / IRON CROSS / O En route we will pass the 100km marker TO MELIDE TO ARZUA (13 KM’S) (BLD) – a milestone for pilgrims who travel CEBREIRO TO SARRIA (5 KM’S) (BD) Today we also pass from Galicia’s Lugo the Camino. This morning we depart Madrid and travel province to Galicia’s A Coruña province. Our walking trip for today will finish in to Foncebadon, a village popular in the We will have lunch altogether in a typical Portomarín, picturesquely situated on a 11th century with pilgrims on the Camino restaurant of Melide where we will taste hilltop. The old Portomarín, which dates due to its hospitals and church. From here its magnificent “pulpo a feira”. A medieval back to the Roman Age, was an important we continue by foot to view the ‘Iron Cross’ bridge leads pilgrims to Ribadiso, before halt along the route in the Middle Ages and where traditionally pilgrims bring a stone arriving at Arzua, the next halt on our lies beneath the waters of the dam built from their places of origin and deposit it at journey. Surrounded by a beautiful scenery in 1962. Before flooding the town, many the foot of the cross to symbolise a sin or stands the Gothic Chapel of Magdalena, monuments were moved, stone by stone, burden they are leaving behind. the only part of the old Augustinian to higher ground. Such was the case of We then rejoin our coach and continue to monastery that has come down to us. the ancient Sanctuary of O Cebreiro. Here the church-fortress of the Knights of San The little town is famous nowadays for its we will celebrate our group Mass in the pre- Juan of Jerusalem, who once ran the old Galician cheese factories. Romanesque Church (9th-10th century) and hospital that lay beneath the waters of the see the renowned Paten of Santo Milagro Miño River, along with the old Medieval and DAY 9: SUNDAY 13TH OCTOBER – (Eucharistic Miracle from the 13th century) Roman bridges. ARZUA TO AMENAL (21 KM’S) (BD) and a precious Romanesque carving of The municipality also has the Church of San Before departing Arzua we will celebrate Santa Maria la Real. We then continue to Nicolás, from the 13th century; the portal Mass in Arzua Parish Church with its statue Santiago de Compostela FRANCE Palas de Rei Amenal Portomarín 1 3 1 2 1 2 Arzúa Sarria SPAIN 2 Madrid SPECIAL NOTES All details of sightseeing listed and order of daily arrangements must remain subject to change due to any unforeseen circumstances, which may arise, or at the discretion of the pilgrimage leadership. This overview is based on the standard of St. James and the chapel dedicated to of the finest examples of architecture pilgrimage departure and return dates. St. Lazarus just outside the village. Here in all of Europe. As pilgrims we have the Please refer to your personal flight we leave behind the last major centre of opportunity to climb the stairs behind itinerary for more specific details or population on the Camino until Santiago. the high altar to visit the crypt where the amendments pertaining to your travel. Wander through the picturesque village relics of St James are preserved, touch the of Calle, with its traditional stone houses. central pillar (Portico de La Gloria), view the Onwards to Salceda where we see a PILGRIMAGE DETAILS ‘botafumeiro’ and admire the wealth of monument to Guillermo Watt, a pilgrim medieval art inside the Cathedral, before Tour Code Commences Madrid who died at this spot only a day away from his earthly destination on pilgrimage. visiting the cloister museum. Afternoon PV2419 5th October 2019 at leisure. Continuing on we climb up through Cost Per Person - Land Only: $3790.00 (Incl. Tax) magnificent eucalyptus woods en route DAY 12: WEDNESDAY 16TH OCTOBER to Amenal. – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA & Single Room Supplement: $950.00 FINESTERRA (BD) DAY 10: MONDAY 14TH OCTOBER – Prepaid Tipping: INCLUDED AMENAL TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA We travel out today to one of the most * Costs have been based on prices as at June 2018 (16 KM’S) (BLD) western points of continental Europe! We and must remain subject to possible change in ‘This is the day the Lord has made, let us firstly come to the lovely seaside town of the unlikely event of significant exchange rate rejoice and be glad’ (Ps 118:24). Finesterra. It is situated on the rocky Costa variations, airfare increases and minimum group size (25) contingencies. Excitement mounts as the trail brings us da Morte (Coast of Death), named because closer to our destination. Walk through of the large number of shipwrecks along rolling terrain towards Lavacolla, where these shores. During our time here we will Inclusions medieval pilgrims traditionally bathed visit the Chapel of Nosa Señora do Bon Airfares: Not included – Please contact in the river to purify themselves before Suceso, dating from the 18th century. Harvest to help arrange flights should you arriving in the holy city of Santiago. From Nearby we explore Cape Finisterra, require. here we will begin to ascend the Monte meaning “Land’s End”. This name stems Accommodation and Meals: Based on del Gozo, “Mount of Joy”, the point where from the fact that this area is on a remote moderate accommodation with private pilgrims first catch sight of the spires of peninsula that is one of the westernmost facilities throughout with breakfast and the Cathedral of Santiago, these days points of land in Spain. It is also the final dinner daily. surrounded by the bustling, new city of Santiago de Compostela. destination for pilgrims on the Way of St Miscellaneous inclusions: Deluxe James. Time permitting we may visit the Air-Conditioned Motor coach with driver On approach to the centre, we will pass spectacular lighthouse on the promontory • Full Time Local Tour Escort • Local guide through the city’s walls and under the in Madrid and Santiago de Compostela • Arch of Obispo drawing us forward into called “Monte Facho” at the tip of Cape Sightseeing and entrance fees throughout the great Obradoiro Square. Here we have Finisterre overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. itinerary • Prepaid Tipping • porterage finally arrived at our destination, St. James On the road up to the lighthouse is the of 1 piece of luggage per person in Cathedral for the traditional Pilgrim’s Mass, parish Church of Santa María de Fisterra Madrid, Sarria, Portomarin & Santiago de ready to receive a deserved grace and which contains the Chapel of Santo Cristo.

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