Maria is from Viveiro, in the misty and beautiful northern coast of Galicia, and now calls Ireland her adopted home. She adores Santiago, where she studied Journalism at Santiago de Compostela University. She also loves travel, food, books, and arty and crafty. She has walked and cycled many trails including many Camino routes, Japan's Kumano Kodo, the Kerry Camino in Ireland and many others.
The fishing town of Fisterra (Finisterre in Spanish) is located on the Atlantic Coast of Galicia, some 100km away from Santiago de Compostela. Cape Fisterra and its lighthouse, on a headland just outside the town, has been the final destination for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago for many centuries, completing the Camino Finisterre. Fisterra: …
History of the Camino de Santiago The Camino de Santiago is considered a bucket list destination for many people, whether you consider yourself a spiritual person or not. But how did the Camino de Santiago come to be so popular among modern travellers and what do we know about the history of the Camino? Thousands …
6 Must-Sees on Le Chemin du Puy Pilgrims across Europe have been taking to the roads to Santiago for many centuries. As pilgrims traditionally started their journey from their own homes, various Camino routes developed over time, including many coming from different parts of France, the ‘Chemins de Compostelle’. Of the Camino routes in France, the …
The city of Siena is one of the highlights along the Via Francigena in Tuscany. Siena is a UNESCO-listed city and one of Italy’s most visited sites. Designed as a work of art to blend in with the Tuscan surroundings, the city’s perfect Gothic beauty will amaze you. If you are walking the Via Francigena …
Camino Culture: The Galician Hórreo If you are walking the Camino de Santiago, you will start noticing some exciting structures close to most homes in rural areas as you enter Galicia. These rectangular structures are granaries called ‘hórreos’, a widespread construction across rural Galicia. Their function is to store grain and other food crops for …
3 Things to know about Ourense The beautiful city of Ourense is best known to Camino walkers as the starting point of the last 100km of the Via de la Plata Camino route to Santiago. Known as ‘Auria’ by the ancient Romans, Ourense is a wonderful place to begin your Camino de Santiago. In fact, …
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5 Special Places To Experience The Camino at Easter Easter, or Holy Week as it’s also known, is widely celebrated across Spain, with many cities and towns along the Camino de Santiago hosting impressive processions. There’s a huge variety of different places to experience the Camino at Easter. Whether you want to celebrate by the …
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Top 10 Camino Dishes The various Camino routes cross different regions (and in some cases, countries), each with their own traditions, culture and food. Food is an important part of any journey and with this in mind, we think there are 10 Camino dishes you absolutely have to try while walking the Camino de Santiago. …
The Finisterre Camino has had a magical appeal for pilgrims since medieval times. Having arrived in Santiago de Compostela after walking for many weeks across Europe, they would continue their journey on to Cape Fisterra. Cape Fisterra was once believed to be the last place on Earth, the edge of the known World, Finis Terrae. …
Top 10 Camino Portugues Foods To Try The Camino Portugues is the second most popular route of the Camino de Santiago after the Camino Frances, according to 2020 statistics from the Pilgrims Office in Santiago. Part of the appeal of the Camino Portugues is the delicious Portuguese food on offer. The Camino Portugues route begins …
Lugo Roman Heritage If you are walking the Camino Primitivo, also known as the Original Way, Lugo will be one of the city highlights of your journey along the Way of St. James. As the only city in the world surrounded by intact Roman walls, Lugo owes much of its unique identity and character to …
The Camino is full of interesting facts and phrases, and it’s always a delight to learn of another one. You might have heard or seen the word ‘Ultreia’ mentioned when researching, reading, or while walking the Camino de Santiago. The word “Ultreia” is derived from the Latin word “ultra,” which means “beyond” or “farther.” In …
The scallop shell is one of the most iconic symbols of the Camino de Santiago. Today, it is used, along with the yellow arrow, to guide pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela along its many different Camino routes. Painted on trees, sidewalks, tiles, etc… the scallop shell (or ‘Vieira’ in Galician and Spanish) will help …
Things to do in A Coruña For centuries, pilgrims from northern shores docked in the harbour of A Coruña on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Their Camino de Santiago journey had taken them across the seas, but they would still have 75km to walk before reaching the city of St James, the end of …
Camino Culture: The story of As Marias As an exercise of made-up statistics, I would guesstimate that nearly 99% of pilgrims and visitors to Santiago de Compostela get a picture taken with the colourful statue of As Marias in Alameda Park. Hands up? If you haven’t been to Santiago but you are about to, or …
6 Unmissable Christmas Activities in Santiago de Compostela Whether you’re heading to Santiago for a little pre-Christmas holiday or if you happen to be finishing up your Camino de Santiago (quite a chilly walk we’d imagine) during the festive season, there are some unmissable Christmas activities to keep you entertained in this Spanish city. If …
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There are many wonderful festivals taking place throughout the year on the Camino de Santiago. One of these is O Magosto, Galicia’s classic autumn festival. This festival welcomes the winter season and is dedicated to one special product: the chestnut. If you are travelling along one of the Camino routes in late October and November, …
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The Val d’Orcia in Tuscany is one of the must-see regions of the Via Francigena and one of the highlights of the Camino to Rome. The Via Francigena has crossed the Val d’Orcia since Roman times when it was known as Via Cassia. Since then, the trail has linked and facilitated trade as well as …
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Useful Spanish for the Camino Walking the Camino de Santiago (particularly along the French Way route and as you get closer to Santiago de Compostela), you will meet people of all nationalities. Most people will come back from the Camino having made at least a few friends. You will find some Useful Spanish for the Camino …
Camino de Santiago lingo Heading to the Camino de Santiago routes soon? We have put together a short and fun guide to the most useful Camino de Santiago lingo, a few sentences in Spanish and Galician to help you along the way!: Buen Camino! – This is the one sentence you will always remember. It …