Spain from A to Z

Routes Numerous tourist and cultural routes testify to the extensive historical cultural heritage of Spain. There are various cultural routes, such as the Paths of Sepharad and the Route of the Caliphs, themed routes which include numerous wine routes and the Chocolate Tour in Zaragoza, as well as natural routes for hiking. Spanish itineraries are a great way to discover the history, culture, natural landscape and cuisine of the country.

Above to the left: Pilgrim on the Way of Saint James. Above to the right: Fortress- Castle of Zafra, Guadalajara. Below to the right: The windmills of Castile-La Mancha.

San Pedro de Mélide, Santiago de Barbadelo) and ancient pilgrims’ hostels (Palas de Rei, Leboreiro, Castañeda). Lavacolla and Monte do Gozo are the last stops before pilgrims arrive in Santiago de Compostela to walk the final stretch of the pilgrimage route and kneel before the relics of Saint James in the cathedral. The city of the Apostle offers a plethora of sights, and visiting its alleyways, squares and hidden corners is a wonderful incentive before enjoying delicious Galician cuisine and acquiring a memento of the region’s famous goldsmith’s work or local artisans’ crafts to commemorate your visit. The most significant holidays are 24 and 25 July, in honour of the Apostle Santiago. Also recommended is the Northern Way of Saint James, alternately called Camino del Norte.

THE WAY OF SAINT JAMES An excellent tour of Northern Spain. For over 800 years, worshippers of the apostle Santiago along numerous routes. These paths leading to Santiago de Compostela have been officially declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe. The most famous pilgrimage route is called the Camino Francés (The French Way). It crosses Somport or Roncesvalles in the Pyrenees, and then runs into Puente la Reina (Navarre). In La Rioja, visitors can find important pilgrimage sites such as San Millán de la Cogolla and Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and then reach Burgos with its awe-inspiring Gothic cathedral (St. James) have made an uninterrupted pilgrimage

and the Monasterio de las Huelgas. The Way of St. James then

wanders into Palencia, with its magnificent Romanesque sites (Frómista, Villarcázar de Sirga and Carrión de los Condes), past Sahagún and San Pedro de Dueñas, and finally takes you to León with its cathedral, the Royal Basilica of San Isidoro and the Hostal San Marcos. The route crosses Astorga and the region of El Bierzo and reaches the first Galician village in O Cebreiro with its famous Santa María la Real church, the centre of the much-visited “pilgrimage of the Eucharistic miracle”. Pilgrims can discover magnificent abbeys (San Xulián de Samos, Vilar de Donas, Sobrado dos Monxes), churches in the First Romanesque and Romanesque styles (San Antolín de Yoques,

www.caminosantiago.org