Phenomena to Reconnect Travelers with Their Five Senses

On entering Galicia, hikers will find themselves in a mild rainy climate for the most part of the year. Galicia's rain is a gift to the senses. It can fall light and delicately, or rain constantly, making everything turn gray. Locals can hear the rain beating their windows after a long working day, or hitting the ancient stones in the streets. Pilgrims feel cold under their raincoats, the smell of wet earth rising with every step …

But rain is not the only weather to join pilgrims on their journey. The Camino also brings sunny days that shine in the brightest green, and the subtle colors and smells of spring and fall emerge in all their splendor. Intense colors roar out at sunset, followed by cold starry nights. Pilgrims can feel the dew in the air and hear the nocturnal life scurrying around the forest …

One of the darkest shades of green found in the Galician forest is that of the laurel tree (Laurus Nobilis). Laurel trees can be seen in nearly every forested area along the Camino. This tree is everywhere. When its leaves are dried, they have a characteristic fresh, balsamic smell. They are the secret ingredient that give many Galician dishes their delicious taste, particularly in shellfish and potatoes.

On the Route of the Sea of Arousa, pilgrims will pass by the small island of Cortegada, which is part of the Atlantic Islands National Park (Parque Natural de las Illas Atlánticas). The island is home to one of the largest laurel forests in Europe. Cortegada is a gift to the senses: the sound of the wind and sea winding through the trees would inspire any traveler that hears it. And that's not to forget the island's fine sand and clear waters.

If pilgrims have the luxury of visiting the island on a guided tour, they will be able to enjoy the aromatic hiking trails, the remains of various buildings, including a monastery, and the small ponds and brooks that make this island a true floating forest.

The Camino de Santiago is no stranger to gigantic forests. Fraga de Catasós (Forest of Catasós) is on the outskirts of Lalín and is home to some of the tallest chestnut trees in Europe. These trees are 98 feet (30 m) tall and 16 feet (5 m) in circumference. They are protected as a Natural Monument in Spain (Monumento Natural). There is no better way to feel at one with nature than by hugging a hundred-year-old tree (with respect and care!).

Chestnut trees (Castanea Sativa) produce their fruit, which are also called chestnuts, in the fall. In Galicia, many traditional recipes include this fruit. They were once cooked in the same way as potatoes today; they were put in stews and casseroles, and even boiled. Empanadas, a semi-circular stuffed Spanish pastry, can also be made with chestnut flour. Chestnuts also come in a glaze, known in French as marrón glacé or in Spanish as castaña confitada (candied chestnut).

Yet, without a doubt, the roast chestnut is king. This type of chestnut is at the heart of the traditional fall festival of Magosto, also known as Castañada. Served hot in a cone of newspaper, they warm the hands, body, and spirit. Try not to eat them too quickly, though, or you'll burn your tongue! They are really delicious.

One flower that features in Galician gardens, sidewalks, and tree wells is no stranger to beautiful scents: the camellia. Originating in the Far East, camellias started to spring up in the gardens of manor houses and pazos (traditional Galician homes) in the late 18th century, and their use soon became widespread throughout Galicia. The High Fragrance variety has the strongest scent, but, strangely, not all camellias have a scent.

More than 8,000 varieties of camellia exist in Galicia today, and travelers following a certain trail will be able to admire them. As camellias have a long flowering period (from the middle of December to well into April), people walking the route to Santiago de Compostela will likely get the chance to see many wonderful examples of this flower on their way.

Another of Galicia's great pleasures that appeal to the senses are its hot springs. The medicinal mineral waters that emerge here have been known and coveted since ancient times. Even the Romans made use of their therapeutic properties and enjoyed them immensely.

Travelers can find medicinal mineral springs along many different routes of the Camino. Some of them reach high temperatures at the surface and are known as caldas. These caldas can be found in both luxurious spas and public hot springs, and they are an ideal spot to stop and restore the body.

Water is life, and even more so in Galicia. Bridges, streams, and waterfalls hold mystic powers and are a source of great richness, from the traditional pesqueiras to modern aquaculture. Pesquieras are traditional structures built in riverbeds that are used to capture the prized lamprey fish.

Along both the Route of the Sea of Arousa and the Coastal Portuguese Way, large fishing rafts (bateas) can be seen everywhere. These wooden platforms float on calm river waters and are used to farm Galician mussels. They are an industry leader in aquaculture, providing a delicacy that now extends to turbot, oysters, sea bass, seaweed, and even octopus.

Water has not only shaped Galician life, but the stones and rocks of Galicia itself. The few caves that Galicia has are guaranteed to incite the senses. In Mondoñedo, pilgrims can take a break from the Camino and visit A Cova do Rei Cintolo (The Caves of King Cintolo). The caves are not somewhere tourists can just walk around; this is real-life cave exploration site open to the public. If you try it once, you will come back again.

Pilgrims journey through expansive farmlands as the Camino brings them across its plateau. Galicia's challenging orography, which is made up of mountains and valleys, has resulted in the land being organized into land parcels or farmlands known as minifundios (smallholdings). Leiras, which are small family farms or lands linked to small farms, are the norm.

The bancales, or terraces, are the smallest form of cultivation land imaginable. Just a few inches wide, they are stepped along the steep slopes of mountains. Despite this, the terraces are fertile and provide a bountiful crop.

To preserve their crop throughout the year, farmers use hórreos, or grain stores (also known as cabazos, canastros, paneiras, or piornos, depending on their shape). These traditional grain stores are protected today, and they were usually used to save the harvest from humidity and scavenging animals.

The great blocks of granite and metamorphic rock that make up the Galician landscape gave way to the region's megalithic past. Walkers can easily come across standing stones, called menhirs, and stone circles, but the greatest artefacts from Galicia's megalithic history are undoubtedly the dolmens and mámoas (ancient burial mounds).

These burial structures are commonplace and are evidence that this land has been inhabited for millennia. Castros also fall under this category. They were traditional pre-Roman villages that were still inhabited in subsequent centuries.

Many of Galicia's present-day roads are a legacy of the Romans. The Romans traveled to every corner of this region in search of good-quality, abundant farmland, gold (as evidenced by the authentic mining tunnel in Montefurado), and other natural treasures.

Perhaps it was the Milky Way that brought them to Galicia, as the magical streaks of the galaxy glow in the sky at night. What is certain is that the Camino de Santiago has been linked to this phenomenon since ancient times. According to the Liber Sancti Iacobi (Codex Calixtinus), the Apostle Saint James the Greater appeared before Emperor Charlemagne and told him to use the stars as a guide to reach his tomb.

The celestial phenomena found along the Camino are so majestic that some spots have become famous Starlight Tourist Destinations. It is worth effort to peek out in the middle of the night to admire the stars and hear the rustle of nightlife against the silent backdrop, reconnecting with the world and nature via the senses.

The Camino is both an outer and an inner journey where pilgrims will never be alone. With every step, they will be met with other pilgrims, the surrounding birdlife, legendary ghosts, stars, and the natural and cultivated world. Join the journey to feed the body and spirit. This experience is even better when travelers attune their senses to all the Camino has to offer.