The first day of the final 100-kilometre stretch of the Camino de Santiago — through Galician countryside, eucalyptus forests, and medieval stone villages.

Tappe di Questo Tour (10)

1. 1
   Sarria Town Centre Sarria is where most short-distance pilgrims begin — the last 100 kilometres qualify for the Compostela certificate. Collect your credential (pilgrim passport) and first stamp at the albergue or church. The yellow arrows and scallop shell markers will guide you all the way to Santiago. No permit required; the Camino is open to all.
2. 2
   Monastery of La Magdalena The 13th-century Augustinian monastery marks the traditional departure point. Pilgrims have walked from this spot for over 800 years. The Romanesque cloister is peaceful in the early morning. The Camino descends through the old town toward the countryside.
3. 3
   Barbadelo Bridge A medieval stone bridge crosses a small stream. The Romanesque church of Santiago de Barbadelo stands nearby — one of dozens of pilgrimage churches along the route. The countryside is quintessentially Galician: green hills, stone walls, and hórreos — raised granite granaries.
4. 4
   Eucalyptus Forest The trail enters a plantation of eucalyptus — aromatic but controversial. These Australian imports were planted for the paper industry and have replaced much of Galicia's native oak forest. The scent is distinctive and the light filtering through the tall, straight trunks creates a cathedral effect.
5. 5
   Ferreiros A tiny stone hamlet with a pilgrim fountain and rest area. The Camino's magic is in these small places — communities that have sustained pilgrims for centuries with water, shelter, and conversation. An elderly farmer may offer you fruit from their orchard.
6. 6
   Alto de Pena do Cervo The trail climbs to a modest summit with views across the Galician hills. Stone cruceiros — wayside crosses — mark the route, some centuries old. The landscape is a patchwork of small farms, forest patches, and winding stone-walled lanes.
7. 7
   Vilachá Another hamlet where time moves slowly. The granite buildings are adorned with carved stone crests. Dogs sleep in the road. The Camino passes through the village centre — pilgrims are part of the landscape here, as natural as the cattle and the rain.
8. 8
   Descent to Portomarín The trail descends toward the Miño River valley. Portomarín appears below — a town with a remarkable story. When the Belesar reservoir was built in 1962, the original town was flooded. The medieval churches and buildings were dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt on higher ground.
9. 9
   Miño River Bridge The bridge crosses the Miño River — when water levels are low, the ruins of the original town are visible beneath the surface. The arches of the old bridge emerge like ghosts from the reservoir. A sobering reminder of progress and its costs.
10. 10
    Portomarín The rebuilt town centres on the fortress-church of San Nicolás — a 12th-century Knights of St. John church that was moved stone by numbered stone to its current location. Stamp your credential, find an albergue, and rest. You have walked your first day of the Camino — 21 kilometres closer to Santiago.

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