Your entrance to the old town center of Pontevedra is punctuated with its most famous church, the Iglesia de la Virgen Peregrina, a shrine to the Pilgrim Virgen who guided pilgrims here from Baiona.
To see the rest of Pontevedra’s notable buildings will required you to stray from the arrows a bit. The old town is not large enough to get lost in, so take your time and enjoy the many plazas and parks.
The most important landmarks are the Convento de San Francisco, the Basilica de Santa María (often referred to as the Cathedral), the Iglesia de...
Leave by crossing the Ponte do Burgo and heading straight-ish through the next roundabout, turning left immediately after. Before long you will be alongside the railway, which you will cross just before the church of Alba.
TWO WAYS TO PONTECESURES / PADRÓN
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Accommodation in Pontevedra - Along Variante Espiritual
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1 |
Albergue de Peregrinos (Virgen Peregrina) Xunta
Otero Pedrayo
56 8€ |
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2 |
Slow City Hostel Private
Amargura, 5
10 17.50*€ Booking.com |
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3 |
Albergue Acolá Private
Arcebispo Malvar, 15
16 17€ Booking.com |
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4 |
Hostel Nacama Private
Lavandeiras, 1
42 15€ |
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5 |
Aloxa Hostel Private
Gorgullón
57 10/12€ |
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6 |
Hotel Comercio ⭑ Hotel
Augusto González Besada, 5
Booking.com |
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Hotel Madrid Hotel
Andrés Mellado, 5
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8 |
Hotel Alda Estación ⭑⭑ Hotel
Eduardo Pondal, 76
Booking.com |
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9 |
Hotel Rúas ⭑ Hotel
Figueroa, 35
Booking.com |
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10 |
Hotel Galicia Palace ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Vigo, 3
Booking.com |
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11 |
Hotel Room ⭑⭑ Hotel
Filgueira Valverde 10
Booking.com |
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Hotel Virgen del Camino ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Virgen del Camino 53-55
Booking.com |
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Parador de Pontevedra ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Parador
Barón, 19
Booking.com |
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A small church on your right, and on your left a kids playground and recreation area. Not too hidden in the park is an ancient petroglyph. These are common throughout Galicia and more are discovered every year. The bar is at the far end of the small town.
The camino leaves town along the road but quickly picks up a track as it descends through the hamlet of Fragmoreira. It emerges on a roundabout at the divided highway you have crossed over a few times. Keep to the left as you approach Poio.
Accommodation in Cabaleiro
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Hotel Campaniola Hotel Booking.com |
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The first building in town is the rather imposing Monasterio de San Xoán Poio. Further along, as you descend from the monastery, there are several bars.
The camino descends from the Monastery and turns right at the bottom of the hill. Mind the traffic here, there are no barriers and not too many arrows. Follow the road to the first crosswalk and turn left to pick up a smaller country road.
Here there is one tricky turn. Shortly after...
Accommodation in Poio
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Hospederia Monasterio de Poio Hotel Booking.com |
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Combarro might just be one of the most charming and quintessentially Galician villages on the whole coast. Fishermen have worked these seas for centuries, and the horreós that line the coast (and which appear to hover just above the waterline) were used to dry fish as well as grain.
The town is small and compact and the camino does not actually see the best parts, to get to them keep going straight where the camino turns uphill to the right to join the road. It would be hard to get lost in Combarro, but if you do deviate from the camino be aware that there is another...
The Variante Espiritual crosses the road and immediately begins its ascent of the Monte Redondo. The climb varies in intensity from extremely steep to gently rolling and back again. Go gently.
Accommodation in Combarro
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Hotel Combarro ⭑ Hotel
Carretera Pontevedra - Sanxenxo, Km 5
Booking.com |
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Hotel Xeito ⭑ Hotel
Rúa da Cruz, 35
Booking.com |
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Not well signposted, but noticeable for the large dirt parking lot adjacent to it. The mirador platform doesn’t inspire much confidence but does offer some excellent views East over the Ría de Pontevedra.
From the mirador the camino levels out a bit and follows along a mountain track. It eventually joins a paved road but only for 250m when it crosses the road and begins the descent into Armenteira.
The camino delivers you directly to the front door of the Monasterio de Armenteira and to the two bars in town. Directly in front of you is the more popular of the two. The albergue is set off from town by a few hundred meters, follow the camino arrows and they will lead you to the albergue.
From Armenteira the camino joins a popular (among locals) trail known as the Ruta de la Piedra y del Agua. It follows along a creek, with trails on both sides, as it descends to sea level. Along the way, it passes several dozen abandoned water mills. Note that although you can...
Accommodation in Armenteira
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Albergue de Armenteira Xunta
Casa de la Cultura
32 8€ |
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Monasterio Cisterciense de Armentaira Pension
Lugar de la Iglesia
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Pousada Armenteira ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel Booking.com |
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Large picnic area and recreation space. There are public bathrooms here, and during the summer months there is a small bar/kiosko.
The riverside walk is interrupted by a large highway and associated roundabouts, but no sooner than you pass them do you return to the trail.
There is a small bar (seasonal) on your left as you reach this junction. There is a larger bar/restaurant just over the river.
As you approach Puente Arnelas you need to follow the arrows that lead you up a steel and wood walkway under the belly of the bridge. At the top, turn right to get up to the road level and follow it into the small village. A short ways on the camino joins the broad Río Umia.
A small village with a small chapel and a large pharmacy. There are bars at both ends. If both are closed, there is a gas station if you are in a pinch.
The camino ahead includes a small climb up through the town of Gombra. It also follows the road for a short stretch before turning left into the small village of Mouzas. There are a few more hamlets along this stretch before the camino arrives at a large crossing of the PO-549....
Just beyond Cores the camino arrives at last to the sea, and the last 3km are along sandy paths with beaches on your left and beach bars on your right. The camino keeps close to the water and arrives at Vilanova by way of a large bridge.
Vilanova is a lovely seaside harbor town with plenty of bars and food options but not much more besides gazing out to sea. The camino arrives near the harbor and the albergue is to your west; after crossing the bridge turn right and follow the arrows to it.
THE BOAT. Everything you need to know about the boat to Pontecesures is impossible to print here. The schedule varies with the tide, the number of passengers, and the whims of the captain and the hospitalero at the albergue (he who makes the arrangements). The matter is...
Accommodation in Vilanova de Arousa
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Albergue de Peregrinos Vilanova de Arousa Xunta
José González Sanisidro, 69
28 8€ |
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2 |
A Salazón Private
Callejón do boliche, 7
10 18€ Booking.com |
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Hotel Bradomin ⭑⭑ Hotel
Juan Carlos I, 29
Booking.com |
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Accommodation in Vilagarcia de Arousa
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Hostal Nogal Cafetería Hostal
Alcalde Rey Daviña, 20
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Pension Derby Hotel
Mariña, 16
Booking.com |
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Hotel Castelao ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Arzobispo Lago, 5
Booking.com |
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Accommodation in Carril
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Hotel Carril ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Lucena, 18
Booking.com |
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Accommodation in Catoira
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Os Migueliños Casa Rural
Aldea Barral, 12
Booking.com |
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