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
Accommodation
Albergue Municipal, on the main road. Tel: (0034) 982 15 78 40
Beds: 20. Open all year. Has cooking & laundry facilities.
Albergue Casa Garcia. Tel: (0034) 982 15 78 42
Beds: 26. Open all year. Has dining & laundry facilities. Also offers private rooms.
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
Information
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
Accommodation
Pension Casa Maruja *. Tel: (0034) 982 18 90 54
Continue through the village onto the path to Hospital de la Cruz
Hospital de la Cruz
Accommodation
Albergue Municipal. Tel: (0034) 982 54 52 32
Beds: 22 in two rooms. Open all year. Has cooking & laundry facilities.
Proceed along the country road into Ventas de Narón
Ventas de Narón
Information
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.
Accommodation
Albergue Casa Molar. Tel: (0034) 696 79 45 07
Beds: 22. Open all year. Has dining facilities. Also has private rooms.
Albergue O Cruceiro. Tel: (0034) 658 06 49 17
Beds: 25. Open all year. Has dining facilities. Also has private rooms.
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
Information
Ligonde was once a popular resting point along the camino and had a pilgrim hospital. The Iglesia de Santiago has a nice Romanesque doorway.
Accommodation
Albergue Municipal Escuela de Ligonde.
Beds: 22. Open all year. Has cooking & laundry facilties.
Albergue Fuente del Peregrino. Tel: (0034) 982 18 37 52
Beds: 10. Jun - Aug. Has dining facilties.
1km further along the path is Eirexe
Eirexe
Accommodation
Albergue Municipal, at village junction. Tel: (0034) 982 15 34 83
Beds: 18. Open all year. Has cooking & laundry facilties.
Pensión Cantina *. Tel: (0034) 982 37 74 61
Pensión Eirexe *. Tel: (0034) 982 15 34 75
Continue along the path through the hamlet of Porto and then into A Calzada
A Calzada
Accommodation
Albergue Calzada. Tel: (0034) 982 18 37 44
Beds: 10.Open all year. Has dining facilties.
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
Information
If it's a good day you should be able to see the Monte Pico Sacro which is just above Santiago de Compostela.
Accommodation
Albergue Os Chacotes.
Beds: 112 in two rooms. Open all year. Has cooking & laundry facilties.
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
Information
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.
Accommodation
Albergue Municipal, Plaza Concello. Tel: (0034) 982 37 41 26
Beds: 60 in six rooms. Open all year. Has cooking facilities.
Albergue Buen Camino, Rúa del Peregrino. Tel: (0034) 982 38 02 33
Beds: 41 in six rooms. Open all year. Has cooking & laundry facilities as well as internet access.
Pensión Guntina *, Travesia do Peregrino 4. Tel: (0034) 982 38 00 80
Hotel Vilariño **, Avenida de Compostela 16. Tel (0034) 982 38 01 52
Hotel Benilde **, Calle del Mercado. Tel (0034) 982 38 07 17