Pilgrim walks in Pontecesures

Known in Portugal as Caminho Português, the Portuguese Way of St. James leads the pilgrim from Lisbon through central and northern Portugal to Galicia, to the destination of all St. James pilgrims, Santiago de Compostela.

After leaving Caldas de Reis, the Portuguese Way (inland) continues through rural areas, passing small villages and hamlets among fields, vineyards and peaceful paths. This is a comfortable stage with no major climbs — ideal for enjoying the Galician landscape before reaching Santiago. Near the end of the route, you’ll cross the Ulla River, one of Galicia’s most important rivers and the main tributary of the Ría de Arousa, the largest and most productive estuary in the region. Just across the bridge lies Padrón, a key site in Jacobean tradition: according to legend, this is where the stone boat carrying the body of the Apostle James arrived, guided by his disciples Theodore and Athanasius, returning him from Jerusalem to Gallaecia. Padrón is also rich in culture — it is the hometown of Rosalía de Castro, considered the national poet of Galician literature.

Portuguese Camino From Porto to Santiago, 253km through the inland. The route here shows the corrected path. With a bit of back and forth and wandering, it ended up being about 30 km more.Walked in early September 2017 and recorded on the phone.

Vilanova de Arousa - Boat on the Rio Ulla - Pontecesures - Padron - Igrexia de Santa Maria de Irina Flavia - Santuano da Escravitude - A Picaraña

Penultimate stage of the spiritual journey

Central Portuguese Way J10 Caldas de Reis - Padrón Recorded on March 1, 2024 08:51:38

11 TAPPA CAMMINO PORTOGHESE

11. Tag auf dem Camino

Nos encontramos ante la última etapa de la Variante Espiritual, ya que a partir de Padrón el Camino se une con el trazado principal del mismo para llegar a Santiago de Compostela. Esta etapa puede hacerse de dos modos: a pie, siguiendo la orilla de la ría de Arousa hacia Catoira y Pontecesures; o en barco. El barco rememora la Traslatio, el recorrido náutico que, de acuerdo con la tradición jacobea, realizaron los discípulos de Santiago para traer el cuerpo del apóstol de regreso a Galicia. Para tomar el barco, hay que dirigirse a la estación marítima de Vilanova. El recorrido náutico finaliza en el muelle de Pontecesures, desde donde se prosigue por 2 km hasta Padrón.