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SPIRITUAL VARIANT

The origin of all roads

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SPIRITUAL VARIANT

73 km of route that adds to its many attractions and places with history, the delicious gastronomy of the region and the magical and beautiful environment of the O Salnes region. Find out!

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This variant of the Way of St James joins the Portuguese Way with the Traslatio Route, also known as the Mar de Arousa and Río Ulla route, which is the origin of all paths

Organized in three stages it starts in Pontevedra and ends in Pontecesures, where it joins the last stage of the Portuguese Way. The peculiarity of this Variant lies in the fact that the first two stages are carried out on foot and cross the beautiful region of O Salnes; while the last stage is carried out on board from Vilanova de Arousa to Pontecesures, navigating through the waters of the Ría de Arousa and concluding in the last navigable section of the Ulla River.

  • ORIGIN OF THE ROUTE:

    In the year AD 44, by order of Hrodes Agrippa I, the Apostle Santiago, who had returned to Jerusalem after preaching for some years in the territories of Hispania (present-day Spain ), was beheaded. The few Spanish disciples who had followed him to Jerusalem stolen the body and loaded it into an unmanned stone ship which, guided by angels and a star was taken to the mouth of the Ulla River, until it docked in Iria Flavia, the current village of Padrón.

  • First Stage (23.2 km):

    In the first stage, starting from the Pilgrim’s Square, in Pontevedra, the route it heads through the picturesque landscapes of the Comarca de O Salnes, passing through the dynamic city of Poio with its old monastery and the beautiful coastal town of Combarro to ascend to the final destination of the stage: the amazing Armenteira Monastery, a loaded construction of history since the year 1162, and where it is possible to stay.

  • Second Stage (22.7 Km):

    The second stage begins traveling the suggestive “Stone and Water Route“, a path that borders the small river Armenteira, framed by exuberant vegetation and peaceful and picturesque corners. We continue in a northerly direction passing through Ribadumia and Pontearnelas, to reach the coast in Vilanova de Arousa.

  • Third Stage (27.7 km): Traslatio

    In the last stage, from Vilanova to Pontecesures, the maritime route begins, the so-called Traslatio. This section can also be covered on foot, skirting the coast of the Ría and Ulla.

    After setting sail in Vilanova, we go up the beautiful Ría de Arousa until it reaches the mouth of the Ulla River and navigates its last stretch to the final destination. Along the way, you can see the only maritime or fluvial way of the cross in the world, a collection of 17 crosses that mark the route of the Apostle. According to tradition, the stone boat with the body of Santiago reached Iria Flavia, near the current town of Padrón and it is at this point that the The spiritual variant rejoins the Portuguese Way.

SPIRITUAL VARIANT MAP

Route and Places of Interest