Stage from Ribadeo to Lourenza

Information about stage 27: Stage from Ribadeo to Lourenza

Itinerary

Attention because in Galicia , unlike in Asturias, we must attend to the most open part of the scallop to continue in the right direction. In turn, the milestones will be in charge of showing us the remaining distance to Santiago, which will be one more boost to reach our goal. After leaving Ribadeo along the San Lázaro street next to the soccer field, the day continues along local roads and highways, mostly towards Pastoriza de Obe and Vilela , with a bar-restaurant and pilgrims’ hostel (Km 7) . About 20 minutes away you will find Vilar , where you take a forest track that goes to A Ponte de Arante . It is better not to choose this track in the rainy season as it floods easily. In this case, the most sensible thing to do is to go out onto the LU-133 and pass San Vicente until you reach the path that goes down to A Ponte de Arante (Km 11.5) . In A Ponte, the first ascent of the day begins, something hard at first but soon the unevenness subsides. At the top we access the Council of Barreiros and descend to Villamartín Pequeno (Km 17) . We leave the rural nucleus at the marker that indicates 177,453 kilometers to Santiago. We go up the paved track to Villamartín Grande (Km 18.5) , where there is a Pilgrim Support Point (see observations) and after crossing a regional road we head towards Gondán , a town with a pilgrims’ hostel (Km 22) . Along local tracks, crossing a couple of villages, we go down to San Xusto, with a bar and a hostel with 14 beds (25 km) . Up to Lourenzá there is about an hour left, which will take us to cross Mount Calvario between a mass of eucalyptus trees and later descend to the nucleus. By a ramp with a handrail, quite slippery if it has rained, and the Ponte da Pedra of medieval origin, we enter Vilanova de Lourenzá (Km 29.5) .

Difficulties

Bad indications at the Ribadeo exit:

The signage is quite precarious to leave Ribadeo. You have to go along Avenida Rosalía de Castro, passing next to the bus station and continue straight on Rúa Ramón González and Calle Diputación, where we turn right until we find the first milestone. Just over 190 kilometers to Santiago. There is provisioning in Vilela, Villamartín Grande and San Xusto:We can refuel in Vilela (with a pilgrims’ hostel), just over 7 kilometers from Ribadeo, at the Villamartín Grande Pilgrim Support Point and in San Xusto, almost at the end of the stage. There are fountains in the localities of the Council of Barreiros.Long stage up and down and can be shortened if desired by spending the night in Gondan (it would be 22 kilometers of stage).

Observations

In Villamartín Grande

there is a Support Point for Pilgrims called Snack . Telephones: 610 451 518 and 647 823 378. Apart from regaining strength with drinks and food, there is a space with various items such as towels, underwear, ponchos, raincoats, backpack covers, flashlights, batteries, plasters, ointments… and some craft products local. They try to have a bowl of soup or broth, a salad or a serving of Galician empanada. They also offer accommodation. They have private rooms. They offer optional community, vegan or vegetarian dinner. There is also a kitchen if you want to buy something and cook it there. In San Xusto , two kilometers past Gondán, is the La Curva bar-restaurant and now also a hostel (it does not appear on the stage list). An old school of the Council of Barreiros that has 14 bunk beds, showers and a small kitchen. The keys are requested at the bar (telephone 982 14 40 72).Today the road to the north becomes somewhat different as it leaves the coast and plunges into rural and cattle-raising territory inland.

What to see, what to do

• San Salvador Monastery

  It was declared a National Historical Monument in 1974. Founded in 969 by Count Don Osorio Gutierrez, known as the Holy Count. Between the 17th and 18th centuries it underwent extensive remodeling, the period from which the current buildings date. Monastic activity was abandoned in the second half of the 20th century. The façade was designed by the architect Casas Novoa and constituted a preliminary test of the façade of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The old Abbey Chamber is today the seat of the Vilanova de Lourenzá Town Hall.

• Museum of Sacred Art

  Created in 1964, it consists of an important collection of panel paintings with scenes of the miracles of Count Don Osorio. There are sculptures from the 17th and 18th centuries and a varied number of pieces of goldsmithing.