Melide

Camino Frances

To end of camino
52.7
Altitude
455

Furelos

1.50

Melide

5.80

Boente

Services
ATM
Yes
Bar
Yes
Bus
Yes
Correos
Obispo Varela 20, 15800, Mon-Fri: 0830-1430 & Sat: 0930-1300, 981 505 866
Grocery
Yes
Medical Center
Yes
Pharmacy
Yes

Although it has been on the menu as far back as O Cebreiro, Pulpo (octopus) doesn’t seem to garnish much attention until Melide. Despite its apparent disconnect with the sea, Melide’s thriving Thursday market meant that shipping pulpo was a profitable enterprise. It is served today as it was then: on a wooden plate, garnished only with a healthy drizzle of olive oil and a shake of paprika. It is eaten with a rather crude looking toothpick, alongside heavy Galician bread and a bowl of the local Ribeiro wine.

One of the better places to try it is Pulpería a Garnacha, the last door on your left before you get to the main road in Melide.

The melindre is another of Melide’s favorite  foods, and if you like dry and flavorless it can be your favorite too. It resembles a glazed donut and is sold from dozens of identical booths during festivals.

Melide, long the crossroads between territories, is also the meeting point of the various camino routes which come from the north, including the part of the Camino del Norte and the Camino Primitivo. Because of this, and the proximity to Santiago, the road become a great deal more congested.

History

Melide is an ancient settlement and despite its importance as a natural crossroad since Neolithic times, it has never been protected by a wall. In Medieval times the overwhelming bulk of the town industries were tied to the camino. This is evident today in the way the town is shaped; stretched out lengthwise along the camino road.

The Road

The traffic through Melide can be dangerous, particularly on market days when booths line the crowded streets and the arrows through town become difficult to spot. Simply follow along with the main road to the first roundabout. If you have not yet crossed the main road do so at the roundabout, and then cross the road that runs perpendicular to it. Arrows should point you towards a small side street through the old part of town that parallels the main road. There are many other yellow arrows that direct you towards the many albergues in town, they are often attached to adverts or are painted alongside a simple ‘A’. These can be ignored.

Comments

Camino de Sant…

We stayed at Paza de Sedor, outside of town but fabulous accommodations. Pool,sports court gourmet dinner and believe it or not AC!

Camino de Sant…

The museum in town is worth the visit. It is near the church and there’s no charge. Extremely well done.

Camino de Sant…

A bit out of the busiest part of town, Hotel Carlos 96 is clean, very comfortable, and has excellent hospitality. The heat water pressure in the showers and offering of both towels and any toiletries you didn’t bring make this a decadent treat. It appears there is central air in the rooms, but I am traveling in March so did not test it out. The menu of the day is beyond generous, very tasty, and inexpensive. Highly recommend.