The Camino de Santiago de Compostela – French itinerary with guide and fixed dates

Departure from Italy to Santiago, by scheduled flight (ticket cost is not included in the participation fee). Arrival, meeting with the local driver and transfer to Sarria. Overnight

After breakfast we leave for Barbadelo, where you can admire the exceptional Church of Santiago, declared a National Historic Monument. The path goes in the direction of Rente for a route that winds through Mercado da Serra, a humble village where Jews used to flock to negotiate and supply pilgrims with goods, then the centers of Rente, Brea, Ferreiros, Rozas and Vilachà, a rural village of peasants where the ruins of the Loio Monastery are preserved, cradle of the Knights of the Order of Santiago. Arrival in Portomarin, a medieval town that was flooded by the construction of an artificial dam. The church of Saint Nicolás (today Saint Juan), as well as other buildings were moved from stone to stone in their current location. When the water level allows it, you can see the remains of an ancient bridge and the ruins of the village at the bottom of the basin.

After breakfast, we continue the pilgrimage to Palas del Rei crossing Gonzar, Castromayor, so called because it was the site of a pre-Roman "castrum" whose traces give an idea of how "Celtic" Galicia could have been. The route winds through Hospital de la Cruz, Ventas de Naron, Lameiros where you can visit the Church of San Marco, and Ligonde, an ancient station on the way as proved by the cross that indicates the place where a pilgrim cemetery once stood. Then we will continue to Ebbe, Albergo, Portos Lastedo and Valos before reaching Palas del Rei, a town with remote origins dating back to pre-Roman times, which is part of the Celtic fortresses.

After breakfast, the route continues as you enter the province of A Coruna. You pass through the centers of San Xulian, Pontecampana, Casanova, Coto, Leboreiro, which preserves an ancient Roman road in excellent conditions. The path continues, winding through Furelos Melide, a place known for the Galician octopus as well as being the point where the French and the northern paths from Oviedo meet. Continue to Carballal, Ponte das Penas, Raido, Bonete, Castaneda, Ribadiso to finally reach Arzua, a really famous city known for its cheese production, about 40 km from Santiago.

After breakfast, continue the journey through Las Barrosas, where you can visit the characteristic capilla de San Lázaro, Calzada, Calle, Salceda Brea and Santa Irene, where there is the homonymous hermitage dedicated to the Portuguese martyr with a Baroque source of healing water. The route ends with the crossing of A Rua and finally Pedrouzo, where you can visit the baroque parish built in 1718 with the statue of the Madonna delle Nevi, the patron saint of the city.

After breakfast, we prepare for the last leg of the journey. You pass through the centers of Burgo, Arca, San Anton, Amenal, San Paio and Lavacolla, a town where, in ancient times, pilgrims used to wash and change before entering the city of Compostela. Subsequently, the itinerary crosses Villamalor, San Marcos and Monte do Gozo, the first hill from where the landscape stretches to Santiago and the towers of the Cathedral. Its name (Monte della Gioia) derives from the emotion felt by the pilgrims after seeing the finish line. We cross the last town before the finish line, San Lazaro, and then finally we reach Santiago de Compostela. 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 the most important pilgrimage point in Europe. The whole city grew up in the shadow of the Cathedral erected in the place where it was found. We will walk through its wonderful historic center to the beautiful Obradoiro square. Once here, there is the tradition that pilgrims have to ask for three wishes from the statue of the seated Apostle, in the Portico de Gloria. Behind the same column there is the statue of Maestro Matteo (the builder) to whom tradition wants three "heads" to be given to transmit his knowledge and talent. Then we will go to the crypt where the sepulcher of Santiago is kept and finally we can see the statue of the Saint.

After breakfast, you will have the opportunity to explore the charming town of Santiago de Compostela at your own pace: you can visit its splendid Cathedral and attend the pilgrim's Mass which is celebrated every day at 12.00. Alternatively, you can participate in the optional excursion to Finisterrae, the "End of the Earth", where the ocean meets the Iberian Peninsula, the final destination of the pilgrimage during the Middle Ages. Free meals.
Overnight at Hotel.

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