The Route to Santiago

We take the route followed by the Pilgrims from the Spanish-French border to Santiago de Compostela. Along this route there are more than 1 800 buildings both religious and secular, of great historical value. The Pilgrims' way played a very important role in the spread of cultural ideas and in establishing a common identity among the diverse peoples of Europe.

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1st Day: MADRID - ZARAGOZA (by plane) - JACA (141 km)
Arrival at Zaragoza airport and welcome of the group. Transfer by bus to the hotel in Jaca and free time. In the late afternoon there will be a meeting with the group leader and a short briefing about the programme. Welcome cocktail and dinner followed by an optional walk downtown. Accommodation.

2nd Day: JACA - SANGÜESA - PAMPLONA (127 km)
Breakfast and sightseeing of Jaca, considered the end of the first part of the Tolosana Road, which enters Spain through the Somport. The legend says that San Francisco de Asís founded here a Monastery. We will focus our attention to the Cathedral, which introduces architectural innovations along the way to Santiago. Free time. The tour continues to the Abbey of San Salvador de Leyre where we visit the church and the crypt. Free time and lunch. On the way to Pamplona we will stop in Sangüensa, a city rich in civil, religious and medieval buildings like the Church of Santa Maria la Real, Romanesque style; Nuestra Señora del Carmen and San Francisco de Asís monasteries, in Gothic style, and finally the Palaces located in the calle Mayor. The tour finishes today in Pamplona. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

3rd Day: PAMPLONA-PUENTE DE LA REINA-ESTELLA-NÁJERA (195 km)
Breakfast and sightseeing tour of the historical centre of Pamplona, considered the end of the second part of the French route. After crossing the Magdalena Bridge and walking around the city walls, the Pilgrims entered the city through the Gateway of France and arrived at the Cathedral. Our visit starts at the Cathedral of Santa María la Real; we continue to the General Hospital, now the Museum of Navarra and the 12th century Royal Palace.
The next stop will be at the Puerta de la Taconera, a departure point for the Pilgrims.
We continue our journey to Puente de la Reina, the crossroads that links Somport and Roncesvalles roads. We will visit the templar Crucifijo Church (Crucifix), whose name is due to its magnificent Gothic crucifix located indoors, and the Santiago Church, which preserves some Romanesque remains and a sculpture of St. James Apostle. We end the visit at the bridge crossing the Arga River. We continue to Estella and stop for Lunch. Estella is the last stop at this stage of the journey. We stroll through the San Martín square and the Rúa street, where we will visit the Church of San Pedro de la Rúa, belonging to the order of Cister and facing the Kings Palace, of Romanesque style; then we reach the Santo Sepulcro and San Miguel churches, with Romanesque façades. Transfer to Nájera. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

4th Day: NÁJERA - SANTO DOMINGO - BURGOS (90 km)
Breakfast. In Nájera we will visit the Monastery dated 11th century, Santa Maria la Real and continue to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, the last landmark of the Pilgrimage in La Rioja. The Saint, Santo Domingo, built here a hostel and a bridge to help the Pilgrims reach the Cathedral in the Saint Square, founding the town. Its Altar - Retablo Mayor - is a masterpiece of the 16th century.
Facing the Cathedral we find the old hospital founded by the Saint, now a Hotel-Parador. Lunch. Departure to Burgos. Here the Pilgrims used to arrive from the East and walk to the Cathedral through Las Calzadas Street. We enter the Cartuja de Miraflores, of Elizabethan style, housing the Mausoleum of King Juan II, a masterpiece of Gil de Siloé and the Anunciación, a sculpture by Pedro Berruguete. We will continue to the Cathedral, the third largest in Spain built by Felipe Vigarny, Gil de Siloé and Juan de Colonia. Its decoration is a real jewel of European Gothic art. Free time. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

5th Day: BURGOS - FRÓMISTA - LEÓN (189 km)
Breakfast and we start the tour of the city crossing the Puerta de Burgos to reach the Hospital del Rey, with its Plateresque main door: the Puerta del Romero. Continuation to Frómista where we will first walk to the old hospital in San Telmo square and then visit the Monastery of San Martín Church, located in Obispo de Almaraz Square. Its architecture served as a pattern for many Castilian churches. Inside we have the best sample of a Romanesque church with a basilical ground plan. Lunch and departure to Leon. This is the end of the 8th stage of the French route and crossroads of other secondary roads to Santiago. In the Cathedral we find a Santiago Chapel with a statue of the apostle on a column entirely marked by the Pilgrims. The Church of San Isidoro contains a famous collection of relics considered to be miraculous, which makes this place a holy visit. Next we will visit the San Marcos Hostel, a richly decorated Jacobean building that used to host the Casa Primada, a monastery of the Order of Santiago. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

6th Day: LEÓN - ASTORGA -PONFERRADA-SANTIAGO (335 km)
Breakfast and departure to Astorga. We enter the city using the same access as the Pilgrims, at the San Andrés district. We visit the ruins of the Cinco Llagas Hospital and we walk to the Plaza Mayor to find the Cathedral, next to the San Juan Hospital. Not far is the Celda de las Emparedadas, where women with a "dark past" were confined. Before leaving the city through the Obispo Gate, we will visit the Episcopal Palace, a Gothic building by Gaudi, with its Museum on the Pilgrimage Routes.
Lunch and departure to Ponferrada where we visit the Templar Castle built in 13th century, and walk to the historical centre. On our way out of the city we will stop to enjoy a superb view of the templar Cornatel Castle.
We shall also stop at the town of O' Cebreiro, considered the border between León and Galicia, where we will visit the singular pallozas, round houses made of stones and straw. We continue the journey and arrive at Santiago de Compostela. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

7th Day: SANTIAGO
Breakfast and sightseeing tour of the city, declared a World Heritage city in 1985 by the UNESCO. The tour starts in the Obradoiro Square, the best place for viewing the main monuments of the city. The Gelmirez Palace: the austere façade contrasts with the splendour of the interior with a pervading atmosphere reminiscent of the Middle Ages. The Town Hall, the former Palacio Raxoi, with its classical façade; the College of San Jeronimo, with a Romanesque door, today the headquarter of the University Rectory, the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos, (now a Hotel-Parador), with an elegant Plateresque front door; and finally, the most important building in the city: the Cathedral, built between the 11th and 13th centuries. The Obradoiro façade, dated 1750, is the highest expression of the Baroque style in Spain. We enter the Cathedral through the Pórtico de la Gloria, Mateo's masterpiece of the 12th century: two hundred Romanesque figures make this a stunning and unforgettable sight. On the main Altar we find the statue of Santiago. We then enter the Museum, the Cloister, and finish at the Puerta de las Platerías, the only Romanesque door still preserved. Lunch and free time to enjoy this charming city with its cafés and traditional shops. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

8th Day: SANTIAGO - MADRID (by plane) - DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Santiago airport. End of the trip.