The Way of St. James in O Pino

O Pino introduces itself as the anteroom of Compostela. As the city council that welcomes more kilometres of the most famous and used route, the French Route with a final objective in the Apostle's city. The route criss-crosses five parishes of the municipality: San Breixo de Ferreiros, San Miguel de Cerceda, Arca, San Miguel de Pereira and Castrofeito.

Tramo del Camino de Santiago a su paso por "A Calle"

With Arzúa to the walker's back, the journey begins in the parish of San Breixo, in Ferreiros. The first contact takes place between houses and cattle exploitations, a constant along this trip that signals the Milky Way. The road plays with whoever follows it, with multiple turns and pictures of unique beauty, all coloured of green in its wide chromatic range and of earthy tones. We walk through places like Calzada, Calle or Boavista. In fact, in A Calle is one of the most attractive elements for the pilgrims that the Jacobean Route possesses when passing by O Pino. It's a barn (Hórreo) over the Route (Camiño), just like an original arch. Identifying image of the route, it's a spot where architecture adapts to tradition and presents us with a curious picture.

Hidden amongst the vegetation, we find details that make reference to the Jacobean cult. The mythical heaps of stones, the lone pair of brass running shoes remembering Guillermo Watt's figure, Belgian pilgrim that died as soon as he arrived to Compostela, or even the path of other walkers with small natural altars improvised in any natural shelf. Next to them, whims of nature like a tree located near a water source presenting equal holes in its two faces.

Cruceiro de San Breixo de Ferreiros

Already from San Breixo de Ferreiros the Route maintains a constant zig-zag following the current layout of national Road 547.  Step after step the walker reaches the nucleus of A Salceda. Vegetal panoramas come in succession conjugated in a harmonious way with the constructions distributed in this area of the city council. In the horizon an imminent change is predictable during the course of the Jacobean Route.

We head towards O Xen, located 400 metres high. Here we cross several times the road to begin a descent that takes us into the parish of San Miguel de Cerceda.

Several points to which the walker directs the look. The route continues with successive natural turns, during the descent, rural places that cohabit with new constructions, giving testimony to the renewing role of the French Route. San Miguel de Cerceda has unique pictures of an ancestral route, intercultural, magic.

The last stop of San Miguel of Cerceda, after a small rest in a picturesque area located on your left hand on the way to Compostela, is O Empalme. From this crossing, which connects with the neighbouring city council of Touro, the pilgrim begins another descent.

Capilla de Santa Irene

We are at Santa Irene's doors, a few metres of the above mentioned crossing. In the horizon Arca, but before, one of the most important architectural elements of the municipal patrimony. It is Santa Irene's hermitage, accompanied by a water source supposedly with healing powers. According to the legend, in this place the saint that gives name to the place was sacrificed.

It's a simple religious construction that treasures in it an interesting altarpiece and the images, amongst others, of San Pedro and Santa Irene. It dates back to the Middle Ages and was built thanks to the donation of a couple of noblemen residing nearby, in the formerly known as Village of the Two Houses, today also one of the points where the French Route passes. The above mentioned source is in the inferior part of the chapel, where in the past a beautiful image of Santa Irene's existed and was later stolen. In the upper area of the temple, crossing an old road, we find an impressive oak grove, site, each June 29 - Saint Peter - of a mass pilgrimage.

Albergue de Santa Irene

Returning to the Route, it is also in Santa Irene, just beside national road 547, where we find the first of the hostels of O Pino. Located in the property that, in times, was used as a consistorial house. It also has a well cared rest area for the pilgrims that, little by little, approach Compostela.

Next, again paths under the calm and relaxing mantel of nature. The sound of silence, paraphrasing Simon&Garfunkel, is the king again. Crossing once more, we pass in front of a sawmill and after drawing our steps again in beautiful natural paths, we arrive to the above mentioned A Rúa. To our right, a historical water source. The nucleus goes back to the Middle Ages and according to the chronicles; it had, centuries ago, a building that served as an hospital for pilgrims and rudimentary hostel.

The horizon line is determined by the profile of O Pedrouzo, main nucleus of Arca, parish in which we have been already for several kilometres, specifically since we left O Empalme. Always descending, we cross a small creek, and again the road finds us. Here two options exist: one, to walk some metres above on the road itself, with the petrol station to our left and rest in Arca´s Hostel, or, two, to continue ahead, from O Burgo (that's the name of where the walker is) to follow the route. The Hostel, inaugurated in 1993, has a capacity of more than a hundred of people. It has a kitchen, living room with fire place, laundry, stables and a pleasant porch.

The Jacobean Route from O Burgo is defined again by trees and bushes. Green line ending at Camiño de Santiago's Public School which continues, steps later, in another forest where, according to history, there were several castros. They are small enclaves, to a certain measure, reminding of those seen in San Breixo or Santa Irene. Except that, in this occasion, our destiny is towards a nucleus, known as San Antón.

In this spot there was, centuries ago, a chapel that was destroyed by fire and from which the village, also belonging to Arca, takes its name,. Long is the voyage through this serene forest. Steps that leave the road to your right and preserved and harmonious constructions in the vicinity of the Route. We are already in San Miguel de Pereira, in Amenal. The ascent is now already constant until the surroundings of the airport of Lavacolla. This, is one of the most travelled tracts in the route through the city council of O Pino. In Cimadevila you'll find the last road crossing of the municipality, opening the way to a narrow path in full ascent. Your goal, the above mentioned final goal that defines the terms of O Pino and the beginning of compostelan lands. The Route to Santiago...

USEFUL DATA:

• Hostels:
  Santa Irene’s Pilgrim Hostel: 36 places.
  Arca´s Pilgrim Hostel: 180 places. Stables. With kitchen and laundry.
  Responsable: Obdulia Rendo.
  Phone: 981 51 11 10.
• Health Centre:
  Avenida de Santiago, s/n. Arca.
  Phone: 981 51 11 96
• Medical Urgencies:
  061 / 112
• Pharmacies:
  M. Dolores Ordoñez Armán. Avenida de Santiago, Arca. Phone: 981 51 10 55
  Salvador Pazos Sierra. Avenida de Santiago, Arca.
  Phone: 981 51 10 54
• Taxis:
  Cruz Mirás: 981 51 11 88 / 669 945 381

Useful Links