SANTIAGO´S PILGRIMAGE TO FISTERRA AND MUXIA


 

 


ITINERARY DESCRIPTION

Santiago´s Town Council:

The journey to Fisterra from Santiago begins at the Obradoiro Square. Here, the zero kilometre is signposted to show the completion of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Going down the old street of the city, (Hortas Street) up to Campo do Galo. Going around the pleasant Campus Sur Universitario, (University Campus) you come to San Lorenzo Street which leads you to the Carballeira (fountain and stone cross). On one side it is worth while visiting the church of San Lourenzo de Transouto, which possesses two sepulchers and an italian altapiece which belonged to the Aplili Family(XVI Century) and which are all made of marble. High above on the front facade you can see the the sign of “Bosque da Condesa”, where good and cheap meals are served.

 Going back towards Carballeira, in the same direction as we came, we carry on the right hand side through the Corredoria dos Muiños, with cement road surface up to the village of Ponte Sarela, which is a step a way from Compostela but already in rural land and within the ruins of mills and old tanneries which exploited hidraulic energy to move its machinery.
 Now, we  cross the bridge, and on the left hand side through a pleasant path leading to        the Camino Real. Through here we go up to Sarela De Baixo, (the last of the privilege vantage points above the cathedral´s towers.By taking the path which from the village leads to Vidán, immediately on the right (restored house), you will see an alley,  which through the woodland leaves the village of Vidán on the left (with views of the new hospital) and then a beautiful path among trees, which takes you to the Moas de abaixo residential area (large houses with gardens).
 The route to Santiago´s Town Council is of dry land  avoids having to take dangerous and congested roads, such as the C543 (Santiago – Noia). Accompanied by yellow signs, we now cross the rural villages of Carballal, Munin, and Piñeiro, and approaching Noia road in  Roxos where we pass through the Xunta de Galicia residence.
 

Ames´ Town Council:

 Through the local road, reaching a cantilever bus roof, on the right you can see the village of Ventosa, also possessing exemplaries of traditional houses and granaries. Crossing the AC-453 will take you along dry land linking to the road, next to an electrical tower.
 Once in the fertile land of Covas, where the land consolidation  alters the road, a straight connects Lombao and Augapesada (there are some restaurants within this area). Sorrounding the medievel bridge of Augapesada, (which has recently been restored) you will be able to find an area for resting. From this bridge the Camino Real route has been recently paved, also known as O Rueiro which ends on the road that leads to Bertamiráns.
At this stage, opposite a bar , you will be able to see a narrow road which is signposted and which turns to the right towards Trasmonte. Although there are other alternative routes from Castiñeiro do Ido, (football ground), we recommend you to  take the asphalt road towards Alto do Mar de Ovellas.
 The very long and hard hill which we have to cross ends at a fountain.
 Our entry to the region of A Barcala begins with a smooth descent towards the valley of Tambre. Firstly we must go through the village of Susavilla de Carballo where a cross is situated in remembrance to Liborio Dos Santos, a Fisterrian who died here. Further on in Transmonte you will be able to see a beautiful stone cross (an image of Santiago) and the parish temple of Santa Maria with a beautiful baroque tower. There are two bars situated on this route where you can eat.
Before reaching the river there is yet to cross Burgueiros, where you can admire the beautiful stone houses. After this you reach the River Tambre, situated on the beautiful historical place of Pontemaceira, composed of areas on both sides of the medievel bridge, (XIV century)
 
 

Negreira´s Town Hall:

Crossing the river, which has nothing to envy to those of the french route, on the opposite side of the riverbank we can contemplate an harmonic collection a modern neomedievel manor house, mills, the chapel of San Brais, several houses, (one of them with a coat of arms), granaries, pigeon lofts and a stone cross. 
 At Pontemaceira´s exit there is a track which goes along the riverbank and then converts into a path, it crosses a copse and passes under one of the Ponte Maceira Nove (XIX Century) arches; then it comes out onto the Negreira straight (AC-450) and goes through the old route to Barca. Leaving behind the village of Barca, which name recalls one of the “barquerias” which existed in Tambre, we cross the recently constructed main road, and go up towards the left, taking reference of the woodland occupied by the fort of Logrosa to Chancela. On the left hand side you can see a private house with an old sotnt cross. 
 Just at the entrance of the manor house, (a plot of land with gardens and hundreds of trees) we carry on in a straight line through the lowest part of the Albariña riverbed until we arrive at the modern village of Negreira.
 The route carries on in Negreira through San Mauro Road, where at the end it goes under the passageway which connects  to the Coton manor house with the chapel of San Amaro; next to the manor house is the market place (sunday market) and near here will soon be the accommodation for pilgrims. 
 After taking advantage of the stay in Negreira in getting all the necessary supplies (there will be no population from here to Cee) and after passing the river Barcala through a small stone bridge it is recommendable to go up to the parish church of San Xulián (stone cross) so that you can follow the Camino Real until you get to Negreira´s water tank.
 After walking a kilometre through the road to Marco Cornado you have to take a right which will lead you through the village of Zas, with a chapel and stone cross. This is the itinerary stage where the most interesting areas begin, with beautiful countryside filled with vegetation. You must now pay attention to the signs, you will cross Mount Campelo, the village of Rapote and the beautiful corners of Santo Mariño place (meadow fields, large rocks). Until reaching A Pena.
 At A Pena the church of San Mamede is situated, which forms a remarkable collection, together with the rectoral and a stone cross situated nearby. (an ideal resting area). There is a bar on the road about 50m away.
 Through the asphalt tracks, from Pixxe you reach the road and the place of Cornevo, with a stretch of land  (1000m in length and which parts to the right)  taking us back to the road near the “Altiño do Cotón”. 
 After going though the Barcala Valley, the journey continues through a high and pelado transition land towards Vilaserio.
 From Vilarerío you can quickly return to the road. In order to avoid the asphalt the Camino´s Friends Association have signposted an alternative route which is situated on the right when arriving at the village of Cornado, situated in front of a fort that goes between the houses and turns left following a forest track which leads you to Marco Cornado.
 By taking a right on the Borbeira Road (a long straight), you will find yourself  (250m) with a land track on the left which carries on for 1Km within the Town Council Of Sta. Comba. By taking the first turning on the left and then right we enter the Town Council of Mazaricos.

Mazaricos Town Council:

 Through this stoney route , and once gone by the River Moroñas , instead of going through the centre of Maroñas you can also take the land track which among grassland will lead you to Santa Mariña. From this village which is situated in the parish of Moroñas (Romanesque), you will find access to the  AC-403 (from Pino de Val to a Santa Comba). There are several restaurants situated in Pino de Val (6,5Km to the south), but here in A Mola , there are only eating house. At about 300 metres on the left hand side you must take the signposted road to Bon Xesús. In this devoid of charm village, which is preceded by a singular cross; was a time when a hospital chapel existed for the pilgrims. Nearly stuck to Bon Xesús  the center  Gueima is found; here you must take a left to line up with the hamlet of Vilar do Castro and then right and a left towards the ascent of Mount Aro. While climbing this mount you can observe the beautiful panoramic views high above the cattle raising land of Xallas, with green meadow fields and small masses of trees. Firstly you can contemplate the large reservoir in Fervenza, interior waters; and much further the Regions capital, Santa Comba; some people say that from the top of the mount you can see the towers of Santiago´s Cathedral.

 Between Mount Aro and Mount Vello, the path we are following goes through a fort (defenses covered with (furze), on the right a straight track goes down towards the left (flowerbed area) leading to the village of Lago. From this point a track continues up to Casal De Porteliñas. There is also a bar on this track, which leads up to Quintáns and A Picota (capital of Mazaricos), here we must take a right, going through the houses of Albeleiroas and reaching the road that goes to Corzón.
 Through the open land where the cross of Xirelo was situated, we go round the neglected and little Serra do Castelo covered with pine trees until reaching the solitary church of San Cristobo de Corzón, (a temple exempted from belfries and a stone cross). After this a straight crosses Mazaricos stream and comes out near Mallón, on the provincial road of Pino de Val to Dumbria.
 The second most important listed on the itinerary is the River Xallas, with an original bridge from the XV1 century.
 

Dumbria´s Town Council:

 From Ponteolveira we have no other choice but to take the asphalt road until reaching the (situated on the left) Olveiroa turning. (Making sure that we do not mistake it with Olveira).
 Olveiroa is a relatively large and concentrated nucleus, it possesses many samples of arquitecture (“alpendres”, “palleiras”, “cabazos”), it is also preseded with a cross and the parish church of Santiago. (There is also a bar on this road). Following the signposts we will find ourselfs climbing Mount Sino,  leaving behind the small bridge of the Lagoso River, and crossing the Village until we reach Hospital, where a refuge existed in the Middle Ages.
 Looking towards the West, the gloomy shadow of the carbide factory in Hospital can be seen. Unfortunately there is only one bar in this area where meals are served.
  Through an abandoned bent we enter a lunar, planted with mound hillocks, preceded by a rusty metal factory. To leave such an unpleasant scenery it is best to follow the road to Cee. Then just opposite the factory´s door which is hard to see because it is hidden by waste, the longest straight begins, this straight is better looked after than el Camino Real. It is 9Km up to the Mount, where we can be in total tranquility: there are neither villages nor hardly trees apart from a stone cross and two small chapels.
 Carrying straight and always facing the South, we come to a crossroad (Marco do Couto), distinguised by a stone cross and a jurisdictional boundary stone. On the right we go down to the village of Figueroa, and on the left we can see at a distance the baroque church tower in Buxantes. 
 Continuing and going round towards the South  we come to the Sanctuary of Nosa Señora das Neves, also known in the past  as “Fonte Santa”. The beautiful spring which is situated on the cross was brought here from Camino Real.
 

Cee´s Town Council (1st part):

 Shortly after entering the Council of Cee, we can see the Chapel of San Pedro Martir, surrounded by fields and having its own holy fountain; it is an ideal place for cooling down and relaxing.
 Once again through the well known land of Camino Real, and clearly orientated towards the South , we go through the Armada and Campolongo petons, where at the top of  Cruceiro da Armada (247m) we experience the fantastic view of the oceans: Firstly we see the Corcubion estuary, limited by Cape Cee, and at the end the shape of Cape Fisterra. For the pilgrim who has been wlking days, weeks, or even months through the interior paths, the appearance of the sea, from such a privilaged viewpoint will make him experience sentimental feeling, (From Mount Gozo).
By the time this itinerary reaches its popularity, there is no doubt that a Milladoiro Coat of Arms will be born, like the iron cross.
 We now enter the Region of Fisterra through a quick descent across Mount Armada and the factory of Brens, similar to Hospital, another unpleasant mark on the landscape. After going up the hill we turn right to cross Camiño Cháns, with a cross situated  by the roadside, until reaching the C-550 road from Muros.
 Little by little, the traveller will be taken to the magical land of Cee. We propose an urban itinerary  which passes in front of the Campo del Sacramento, and through thr Magdalena Road, (The Manor house of Cotón, stone cross and fountain), going doen the stps which leads us to a beautiful banana poplar grove. After admiring the galleries, the parish church of Santa Maria da Xunqueira (presbytery gothic), we will arrive at Corcubión in five minutes.
 

Corcubión´s Town Council:

 Although we can enter Corcubión through the high part of the town (access to the hotel, “el Horreo”, it is better and more convenient to enter through Mariña Avenue, surrounded by gardens and white galleries. Once we have visited the XV century gothic church at the square center of Castelao, we can begin the last stage to Fisterra.
Lets us remind you that Cee and Corcubión had refuge centers for pilgrims in the middle ages.
Situated on Campo do Rollo, (children´park), behind the school flanked with garden walls is the road we have to take to the village of O Villar, (with steps to walk up). An asphalt road immediately converges at the place of San Roque, (stone cross), together with the C-550. On the side of the road we will be able to see another path which runs parallel up to Amarela.
 

Cee´s Town Council (2nd Part):

 Going past the small village of Armarela, a short cut appears on the right, hense avoiding the dangerous bents of the main road. At the mink farm surrounded by trees and eucalyptus, we descent to the Sardiñeiro lilet cove which is situated at the height of the Estorde beach, very popular among summer visitors. (Camping).
 

Fisterra´s Town Council:
 
 


You can get the FISTERRANA,
in the Council
Along the streets which are situated on the right hand side of the road we carry on until reaching Fisterra Road, going along another stretch of the Camino Real,.  after leaving behind the road, we go  round the Cove of O Talon. Along this Road, at about 500m we approach the seafront avenue of Langosteira, a very well designed avenue for pedestrians, as well as the dunes and pine trees on its sandy area. Through here we reach San Roque and the Baixar Cross.
 At the fishing town of Fisterra, the best route to take is the road that passes through the Santa Catalina Road, (town Council) the squares Constitution, (stone cross), the small square of Ara Solis (baroque style chapel, stone cross and fountain) ,  set back from the town and port is the parish church of Santa Maria das Areas, with a gothic cross and cemetery (this is the place where the pilgrim´s Hospital was situated).
 After visiting Santo Cristo; at the end of the lighthouse, the pilgrims burn their old clothes at dusk, while the sun hides on the surface of the sea. The route which goes to the lighthouse runs parallel to the main road. (Will shortly  be rebuild.)


Index/ Through Fisterra/ Introduction