Camino de Santiago

The Pilgrims' Trail to Santiago de Compostela is one of the great historical long-distance footpaths through Europe. According to legend, it all began in the 9th century when the bones of the apostle St. James, murdered in Palestine, miraculously appeared in a village in modern-day Galicia. Word spread round the Christian world, reaching (among others) King Alfonso II of Asturias. He undertook the pilgrimage - journeying through dark woods and daunting mountains, from Oviedo via Lugo to Santiago - and invited fellow kings and nobleman to follow in his footsteps. This 'original' route became very popular in the early Middle Ages, when areas south of the Cantabrian Range were continuously at war. This itinerary, walked by millions of peregrinos over the centuries, reveals the beautiful natural settings, captivating historical monuments, gorgeous rural farmland and authentically friendly villages of Northern Spain. Near Lugo, the Camino Primitivo joins the more popular French route, which is almost entirely paved. From here, we continue by bus to Santiago de Compostela, making the requisite stop at Monte del Gozo, the hilltop which affords a pilgrim's first glimpse of Santiago. Option of walking the last few kilometres to enter the city on foot.