WALK: LAS HERRERIAS – O CEBREIRO. 8 KM – 3.5 HOURS
CULTURAL EXPERIENCE: VISIT O CEBREIRO AND SAMOS MONASTERY
DINNER: SARRIA
ACCOMMODATION: SARRIA
Today we’ll start our day in Galicia, the northwestern Spanish region of which Santiago is the capital.
You’ll be transferred to Las Herrerias (675m) to walk another iconic stage of Camino, the ascent to O Cebreiro (1,330m), 650m in 8 km. The steepest section takes you from Las Herrerias to La Laguna (500m in 5.7 km). After La Laguna, you’ll cross the boundary stone between Castilla and Galicia.
The views are out of this world, a sight never to be unseen, a gift of Mother Nature.
O Cebreiro is the first village in Galicia, a romantic little hamlet on top of the mountain.
We’ll visit the village with the astounding pre-romanesque church built in the IX century and its “Pallozas”, traditional old houses built of stone with a straw roof.
This is a good stop to taste the empanada and the octopus Galician style, very popular all over Galicia.
After our visit to O Cebreiro, you will be transported to Sarria, making a short stop on the way in Samos where we’ll visit its stunning Monastery of Benedictine monks, founded in the VI century. The current monastery was built in the late gothic style.
Sarria is the biggest town in Galician Camino (after Santiago), about 15,000 inhabitants. Distance from here to Santiago is about 115km, the main starting point in Camino for 50% of pilgrims wanting to gain their Compostela certificate.
After a rest in your accommodation, we’ll enjoy a well-deserved dinner in an extraordinary restaurant.
In this area, rural Galicia, Lugo province, veal and beef are exceptionally good! steak is our suggestion to end your day, however, close proximity to the coast gives us the opportunity to taste extraordinary fish also. Other fabulous food finds are O Cebreiro cheese (fresh cow cheese), particularly good with quince, Empanadas, Octopus, lacón (made with pig hock, served with olive oil and paprika), Caldo Gallego (a nice vegetable soup) just to name a few.
