Camino de Santiago from Madrid

Departure from Italy to Madrid, by scheduled flight (the ticket is not included in the travel participation fee). Arrival, free transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Continuation to Covarrubias for a short walk, immersed in the traditional architecture of Castile, between arcaded avenues and timber-framed houses. Departure for Burgos, in the afternoon guided tour of the medieval village, which still maintains its original structure and in particular its spectacular Cathedral, perhaps the best Gothic building in Spain. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Departure by bus to Fromista where we will stop to visit one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches of the entire itinerary. We will continue to the gates of Sahagun, a characteristic town of Castile that we will cross on foot, a great example of a town that has grown thanks to the passage of pilgrims along the "Way" time after time. Continuation to Leon. In the afternoon, guided tour of the city including the Gothic Cathedral, with the two tall towers covered with beautiful sculptures and the wonderful stained glass windows typical of the style. Later we will visit San lsidoro (XII century), which is considered to be a masterpiece of the early Romanesque period. Along the tour, we will be able to admire other places of interest, such as Gaudi's Casa Botines and Hostal San Marcos. Arrival in Leon, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Arrival in Astorga, for a brief visit from the outside of the Bishop's Palace, built by the brilliant modernist architect Gaudi, and the adjacent Cathedral (Xl to XVII). We will continue to Castillo de Polvazares, a small village that preserves its precious folklore architecture well, and that is considered, not surprisingly, a National Monument. Continuation to Foncebadon, from where there will be the possibility to walk to the Cruz de Ferro (2.5 kms, 45 minutes), where. following the ancient tradition of the pilgrim, we will be able to throw a small stone brought from our country onto the stone hill that has formed over time at the base of the cross. We will then continue by bus to Molinaseca. Free time in this characteristic village and then continue to O'Cebreiro, where it is still possible to see houses from the Celtic and pre-Romanesque times where animals and people slept together to warm up and a hospital for pilgrims which during the Middle Ages was a refuge from snow and wolves, at about 1,300 m above sea level. Arrival in Lugo, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Free time in Lugo, where we recommend a walk to admire the best preserved Roman walls in the world, declared a World Heritage Site, before returning, by bus, on the itinerary of the Way, to reach Portomarin, which will be crossed on foot . At the end, continue by bus to Melide, for lunch time where you cannot miss the opportunity to taste the best 'Galician octopus', in its bars and 'meson' (trattorias). Here it will be possible to take another walk of about 75 minutes for one of the most beautiful stretches of the Way, under a beautiful forest to Boente de Riba, from where you will continue by bus to Monte do Gozo, the first hill from where you can see Santiago and the towers of the Cathedral. Its name (mountain of joy) comes from the emotion felt by pilgrims at the sight of the finish line. Once in Santiago, you will walk through its wonderful center to the beautiful Obradoiro square.

Breakfast, dinner and overnight at the hotel. The city owes its name to the Apostle Santiago, whose remains were found here in the 9th century. This discovery quickly led the place to become a pilgrimage point from all over Europe. The whole city grew up in the shadow of the Cathedral erected in the place where it was found. Early in the morning a guided tour of the city which will end in the door of the Cathedral around 11 '30 AM. In this way we will have some time to see the interior and for those who wish to attend the famous' pilgrim's mass' where he often sees the 'botafumiero' (a gigantic incenziere) flying. Free time to enjoy walking through the narrow streets of the historic center where every corner is a pleasant surprise. At 2:00 PM we will leave for the final stage of the medieval pilgrimage Finisterre (where until the 16th century people believed that there was the end of the earth) to see a spectacular sea landscape. Return to Santiago.

Breakfast and departure by bus to Avila, free time to lunch, here too we suggest a walk through its splendid perfectly preserved medieval walls, which enclose an equally well-kept and precious historic center. Also the birthplace of Santa Teresa, a really religiuous personality and literate. Continue to Madrid, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and then transfer to the airport. Departure from Madrid to Italy, by scheduled flight (the ticket is not included in the travel participation fee). Arrival and end of the trip.