Phase 1 June 12, 2011: Soto de Luiña Cadavedo

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1 Phase 1 June 12, 2011: Soto de Luiña Cadavedo Located on the coastline of Consejo de Valdes, it s also part territory of El Rabón and Villademoros. In this village we find a tower dating back to the 15 th century when the property still belonged to the Peláez de Villamoros. It s one of the best examples of Asturian military architecture in the middle ages for its stately and defensive characteristics.

2 Phase 2 June 13: Cadavedo Luarca Divided in two by the Negro river, Luarca is also known as Villa Blanca de la Costa Verde. Luarca has been and still remains a fishing village. Whale fishing went on until the 18 th century and currently there is great marine commercial activity. Luarca is renowned for its great ocean views, beaches, and distinctive neighborhoods like La Pescadería and Cambaral. Great urban growth developed during the 18 th century and neighborhoods like Zapatería, La Carril and La Peña emerged. Attractions include the Atalaya Hermitage, the lighthouse, and edifices like the Palace of the Marquis of Ferrara and Casa Guatemala.

3 Phase 3 June 14: Luarca La Caridad La Caridad is the capital city of El Franco. The inscription on the coat of arms of the municipality reads "Franco por el rey, libre por su ley" (Franco as King, Freed by his reign) and it s a product of the Royal franchise granted to them to be free and self governing. Records indicate the existence of an itinerant town council during the first half of the 19th century, which met in different regions of the municipality until it was decided on July 31, 1852, that La Caridad would be the Capital.

4 Phase 4 June 15: La Caridad Ribadeo Ribadeo Situated in the northeastern tip of Galicia, at the border with Asturias, the municipality is 106 square kilometers with a population of more than 9,000 inhabitants. Plaza de Espña An area reafforested with horse chestnut, black popler, and maple trees as well as french style gardens. Here you will find the Council of Ribadeo before the house of the Marquis of Sargadelos. The house is a neoclassical sober mansion constructed at the end of the 18 th century. Next to the Town Hall rises the Torre de los Moreno. It s the house that the Moreno brothers, emigrants in Argentina, constructed in It has an eclectic style and was constructed using reinfroced concrete and steel, with a dome sustained by four columns. On the other end of the plaza you ll find the ancient convent of Santa Clara founded in the 15 th century and subsequently restored. On Obispo Veres street you ll find the Atalaya chapel, the oldest church in Ribadeo. Erected in the 12 th century, it still conserves a 14 th centuty gothic entryway. From here there is a vast view of the Ria de Ribadeo and the Asturian village of Figueras.

5 Phase 5 June 16: Ribadeo Lourenzá San Salvador Monastery Declared a National Historic Monument in Was founded in 969 by the Count Don Osorio Gutierrez, known as the Holy Count. The monastery underwent major renovations between the 17th and 18th centuries, which date the current constructions. Monastic activity ceased in the latter half of the 20th century. Museo de Arte Sacro (Museum of Sacred Art) Was created in 1964 and holds an important collection of wood paintings depicting miraculous scenes of the Count Don Osorio. There are also sculptural pieces dating back to the 17 th and 18 th centuries, as well as a variety of silver and gold works.

6 Phase 6 June 17: Lourenzá Abadín It s been speculated that the name of this town is derived from the descendants of Abul Kasin or Abd I, creator of the Abad dynasty, although it s not likely. Parish Church of Santa María de Abadín Romantic, dating back to the 12 th century.

7 Phase 7 June 18: Abadín Vilalba An important urban core of the Terra Cha, a well known Galician peninsula. The most emblematic monument in Villalba is: Torre de los Andrade This tower was rebuilt in the 15th century. It still stands as a tower of homage, with an octagonal base erected on slate masonry with ledges embattled about. Museo de Arqueología y Prehistoria (Archeological & Prehistoric Museum) Houses works from the Neolithic and Megalithic age, pieces from the Bronze Age and from the arrival f the Romans to Galicia. Church of Santa María Inside, the church is filled with beautiful carvings, similar to the Church of Cristo del Santo Enterro. The church is located in a plaza brimming with archetypal balconies and blends in to create a distinguished historical site

8 Phase 8 June 19: Vilalba Baamonde Baamonde is a well situated locality belonging to the Begonte Town Council. The entryway leads directly into routes N-634 and N-6, and intersects the highway A-6, which connects Madrid and La Coruña. Baamonde is a small town, home to about 300 residents, who celebrate their feasts on September 11, the Day of the Virgin of Rosario de Baamonde. Parish Church of Santiago The most famous monument of the Begonte region. Built in the romantic transitional style of the 13th century; consists of a rectangular and arched apse and nave from the 14th century. In front of the church is a triple transept from the 18th century and a sculpted chestnut tree. Near the church lay the ruins of the ancient fort of Amarante, which was destroyed by the Irmandiños.

9 Phase 9 June 20: Baamonde - Sobrado dos Monxes Monastery of San Salvador The origins of this monastery date back to the middle of the 10 th century, when the Counts of Présaras donated many of their possessions to the monastery and converted it into somewhat of a family building. These riches were administered to benefit the monastic community and the poor; as well as the pilgrims who by then were already passing through during their trip to Santiago. Lagoon of Sobrado An artificial lagoon can be found at the entrance of Sobrado. There is no existing documentation regarding the lagoon s construction or its possible relation to the monks in medieval times. However, its existence shows the monastery s interest in fishing resources, one of the staples of their diet.

10 Phase 10 June 21: Sobrado dos Monxes - Arzúa Arzúa In the older part of Arzua you ll find the very old convent of Magdalena, founded in the 14 th century. It served as an inn for poor pilgrims and today stands in ruins. Nearby rises the modern parish church of Santiago, which contains two images of the Apostle; one as a pilgrim and the other as a braggart. Arzua is a modern locality with a population of almost six thousand, and has services available for pilgrims and travelers.

11 Phase 11 June 22 : Arzúa Pedrouzo Concello De O Pino This is the next to last Galician municipality in the French Trail. It consists of thirteen parishes and nearly 180 points of interest. The itinerary points to villages belonging to the parishes of Arca, Cerceda, Ferreiros, Pastor, and Pereira. The most unique enclave is Santa Irene, with its hideaway retreat dedicated to the Portugese holy martyr and elaborate source of healing waters. The chapel was built thanks to the contributions of two nobles who lived in the nearby village of Dos Casas.

12 Phase 12 June 23: Pedrouzo - Santiago de Compostela SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA From the great complex, which Monte de Gozo has become, you can finally see Santiago de Compostela and the baroque towers of its cathedral. Santiago, the final destination of all trails, is a great city of 95,000 inhabitants. The city combines spaces of modernity with the mysterious, religious, romantic, and cosmopolitan halo of the Plaza of Obradoiro. The traveler discovers a city of darkened cobblestone thanks to time and persistent rainfall. Ancient pathways smelling of Ribeiro wine and cuttlefish can be found scattered about. The cathedral represents the culmination of the Walk. It is the resting place of the Apostle, which incites hundreds of thousands of people, year after year, to set off on a journey full of hardships and experiences which become lifelong memories. There is no shortage of monuments in Santiago de Compostela. There is the beautiful and sublime Pórtico de La Gloria, a romantic portal erected by the Maestro Mateo and completed in It consists of a neatly wrought compound of three arches, of which, the central one comprises a mullion and varied iconographic paintings relating to the Apocalypse of St. John; La Puerta Santa (The Holy Door), containing reliefs by the Maestro Mateo and only open during the Holy Years; the Catholic Kings guesthouse, which today serves as an inn for tourists; the Benedictine monastery of St. Martín Binario; the mansion of Raxoi, the Town Hall, etc... More information on Santiago can be found at