The Portuguese Way in Galicia

Its narrow streets and elevated position are reminders of the town's historic strategic importance as a surveillance post over its neighboring kingdom. This explains its half town-like, half military appearance.

The best example of this is its cathedral, one of the few in Europe to retain its fortifications. The cathedral is home to the tomb of St. Elmo, patron saint of sailors, to whom pilgrims and travelers give thanks on successful completion of a journey.

The cathedral is a real treasure chest of architecture and furnishings. Its richly decorated altarpieces and original organ cases, full of exquisite details, are the Baroque trappings of this cathedral that still basks in its medieval glory.

Although Tui has a charm that makes visitors reluctant to leave, it will soon be time to set off once again on the Camino de Santiago. However, no visit would be complete without a visit to its cloister with hidden symbols of the cathedral community's coexistence with the town's Jewish population, and the bishop's garden, from where visitors can look out over the Miño River and Portugal.

The route north will take us past the busy industrial town of O Porriño, located at a place that has been important for transport since prehistoric times. The architect responsible for changing the appearance of the center of Madrid, Antonio Palacios, gave his birth town its original town hall building.

Despite its reputation as an industrial town, O Porriño has some of Galicia's most precious natural areas, including the Gándaras de Budiño nature reserve on the Louro River. This delicate ecosystem is also a breeding point for migratory birds from all over Europe.

All the towns and villages along the Camino Portugués have close transport links with their neighbor, Portugal. The town of Redondela is no exception. It sits where the majestic Vigo Estuary begins, and has been a stopping point for travelers since Roman times at the very earliest.

The medieval bridge linking Arcade and Pontesampio is testament to the large numbers of travelers who have passed this way over the centuries. It has been the only route available to traffic from Portugal heading for the important city of Pontevedra since the Middle Ages.

This city, which sits on the banks of the Lérez River, is Galicia's second most important historic town after Santiago de Compostela, and has been named several times as one of the best European cities in which to live.

Its grand old town is testament to its past as an important trading center. Strategically located halfway between Portugal and Santiago, the bridge after which the city is named (ponte is the Galician word for bridge) has been a key part of Galicia's infrastructure since the Middle Ages.

The route from Pontevedra to Santiago—which for centuries were two of the main cities in the diocese—is a well-trodden path. This route, now intersected by the highway, is also the site of the spectacular watermills on the Barosa (or Barro) River.

The Camino Portuguese has more towns and cities on it than any other route of the St. James Way. This is because it has been a main route through Galicia since prehistoric times. By that time, the historic town of Caldas de Reis was already inhabited.

Shortly before reaching Santiago de Compostela, the route passes through a town boasting the longest connection with the Camino de Santiago in Galicia: Padrón. Its location between the Sar and the Ulla—the region's two main rivers—meant that it was a strategic location even in Roman times.

Tradition has it that the boat carrying the body of the Apostle from the Holy Land was tied to this small Roman altar, now housed beneath the altar in the Church of Santiago. It was this event that led to Padrón becoming Galicia's first pilgrimage site.

Reaching Santiago de Compostela via the Camino Portugués involves passing along the same areas, landscapes, and pathways that have brought thousands of pilgrims to Galicia since the Middle Ages. It is one of the main pilgrimage routes, walked by St. James himself on his arrival in the Iberian Peninsula.