Stage 29: Portomarín – Palas de Rei Distance: 24.5km
Portomarín
Walk down the main street of Portomarín past the Escalinata de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, Stairs of Our Lady of the Snow.
Take a right and cross over a metal footbridge over the Río Torres.
Turn right on the other side of the bridge and head uphill through an oak forest.
Cross the road at the ceramic factory and back onto the path that takes you through Toxibó.
The path continues to run parallel to the road into Gonzar.
Gonzar
Head out of the village along the road past a bar/café and turn right onto a small track. After 1km or so you will arrive at Castromaior
Castromaior
Named after a Celtic castro that once stood here, Castromaior, is a small village with it’s Iglesia de Santa María and a small café
Continue through the village onto the path to Hospital de la Cruz
Hospital de la Cruz
Proceed along the country road into Ventas de Narón
Ventas de Narón
The surrounding area is the site of a 9th century battle between the northern Christian kingdoms and the Arabs.
Today you’ll find the small Ermita de Santa María Magdalene and a couple of cafés.
Climb out of the village over the Sierra Ligonde, the high point of todays walk at 725m. Walk down through Previsa and Lameiros where you’ll find a beautiful 17th century stone cruceiro on the left before entering Ligonde
Ligonde
Ligonde was once a popular resting point along the camino and had a pilgrim hospital. The Iglesia de Santiago has a nice Romanesque doorway.
1km further along the path is Eirexe
Eirexe
Continue along the path through the hamlet of Porto and then into A Calzada
A Calzada
From here there is a possible detour on the right (2km) to see the 14th century Monasterio de San Salvador at Vilar de Donas.
It is a national monument and is the burial place of the Knights of Santiago.
Continue along the path through the hamlets of Lestedo, Valos, Mamurria and Brea.
From Brea keep on the track that runs next to a rest area and climb up to Alto Rosario.
Alto Rosario
If it’s a good day you should be able to see the Monte Pico Sacro which is just above Santiago de Compostela.
The camino now goes past the Hotel La Cabana ***, Tel: (0034) 982 38 07 50, and a sports stadium before heading down into Palas de Rei
Palas de Rei
Once home to a King’s palace, there is little left to remind you of Palas de Rei’s colourful past.
The Iglesia de San Tirso has a nice Romanesque doorway and scallop shell motifs.
The visual high point of Palas de Rei would have to be the Plaza Concello from which much of the rest of the town radiates.
There is also the typical Galician Ayuntamiento, Town Hall, built with a mixture of granite and whitewashed render.
You will see similar civic buildings in nearly every town in the region.
Palas de Rey also has a number of shops, bars and cafes.
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