• CWBuff
  • Suzanne Brown
  • Scott Brown
  • CWBuff
  • Suzanne Brown
  • Scott Brown
  • Marina Bleimaier

Camino de Santiago - the last 100+ KM

Returning to Camino Frances to walk the last 100+ KM with 3 of my friends (it is their 1st).
Starting in Sarria and will continue onto Camino Finisterre after 2 days in Santiago de Compostela.
Interesting to see how Camino has changed in 4 years...
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  • Wait a minute it stopped raining

    3. juni, Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    ... so we are doing some impromptu sightseeing

    Praia de Cee
    Monumento os defensores das liberdades.
    Cruceiro
    Homenaje al Peregrino
    One of the things I love about Europe: Family time with children playing outside
    Santa María da Xunqueira Church
    Igrexa de Santa María da Xunqueira
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  • Corcubion

    4. juni, Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Igrexa de San Marcos de Corcubión
    The Igrexa de San Marcos de Corcubión is a historic Catholic church located in the heart of Corcubión, just a short distance north of Fisterra along the Costa da Morte.Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, it features a unique blend of Maritime Gothic and Romanesque elements.

    On the streets of Corsubion
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  • IGLESIA IGREXA PARROQUIAL DE SANTA MARÍA DAS AREAS

    4. juni, Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    The Iglesia de Santa María das Areas is a highly significant, historic church located in Fisterra, A Coruña, Spain. It serves as a vital spiritual milestone on the Camino de Santiago.

    Location & Context
    Setting:
    It sits on the lower slopes of Monte San Guillermo, right along the main road connecting Fisterra's town center to the famous Cape Finisterre lighthouse.

    The Route:
    For centuries, pilgrims completing the Camino extension to the "end of the world" have stopped here just before reaching the final cliffs.

    Architecture & Style
    Origins:
    The church dates back to 1199, originally founded under a donation by Doña Urraca Fernández.
    Design Evolution:
    While it started as a simple Romanesque salon-plan structure, it evolved through the 14th and 16th centuries. It is now a unique blend of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque elements.

    Internal Treasures:
    Santo Cristo de Fisterra: The church houses this legendary, highly revered 14th-century Gothic carving of Christ, also known as the Cristo da Barba Dourada (Christ of the Golden Beard). Local folklore famously claims that the figure's hair and nails actually grow.

    The Chapels: Multiple additions line the nave, including the oldest, the 13th-century Baptisterio (formerly Santa Lucía), and the Plateresque-style Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, which displays structural influences from the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.

    Patron Image: A stone statue of Santa María das Areas, carved in 1534, stands as the central titular image.

    A dedicated Pilgrim Mass is held daily at 6:00 PM, which includes a traditional blessing for those finishing their journeys.
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  • The End at The End of the Earth

    4. juni, Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    Cruceiro faro de Fisterra
    The Cape of Fisterra cross is located on the way up to the Lighthouse of Fisterra. It acts as a symbolic antechamber for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. It is located on the final stretch that connects the town of Fisterra with the lighthouse.It marks the spiritual end of the journey for those who extend the path to the "end of the world".
    Material: Made entirely of Galician granite, resistant to the harsh conditions of the Atlantic climate.
    Surroundings: It offers direct panoramic views of the Costa da Morte and the Atlantic Ocean.

    Finisterre lighthouse
    The Cape Finisterre Lighthouse (Faro de Fisterra) is an active 19th-century beacon located on Cape Finisterre, a rocky peninsula in Galicia, Spain, historically known as the "end of the world" (Finis Terrae). Built in 1853 to safeguard ships along the treacherous, shipwreck-prone Costa da Morte (Coast of Death), the site today serves as the true final milestone for thousands of pilgrims completing the Camino de Santiago.
    Designed by engineer Félix Uhagón, the lighthouse features an octagonal stone tower standing 17 meters tall, positioned on a cliff 138 meters above sea level.
    Its powerful incandescent lamp emits a flash every five seconds, visible to ships up to 31 nautical miles (57 km) away.

    Km 0 marker
    The 0.00 KM Milestone: A famous stone marker sits right outside the complex, symbolizing the physical and spiritual termination point of the Camino trail.

    The Boot
    The bronze pilgrim's boot (Bota de Finisterre) is a famous monument located on the rugged cliffs of Cape Finisterre in Galicia, Spain. It sits right by the Atlantic Ocean near the iconic Finisterre Lighthouse and marks the absolute conclusion of the Camino de Santiago
    The sculpture originally featured a pair of boots, but one was unfortunately broken off and stolen years ago, leaving a solitary bronze boot on the rock.

    The Sunset that got obscured by the clouds (reckon I have to come back)
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  • Transitioning from Pilgrims to Tourists

    5. juni, Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

    Travel time from early morning through mid afternoon
    Taxi from Finisterre to Santiago de Compostela train station
    Train to Madrid Chamartin
    Cercanías train into downtown
    And 2-3 minutes walk to the hotel
    And now we are at Circulo Gran Via compliments of Mr. (& Mrs.) Brown
    Awesome place
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  • Gran Via and beyond

    5. juni, Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Gran Vía is Madrid's most famous boulevard, stretching 1.3 kilometers through the heart of the city from Calle de Alcalá to Plaza de España. Constructed between 1910 and 1929, this bustling avenue serves as a major hub for shopping, world-class musical theater, dining, and iconic early 20th-century architecture.

    Key Highlights and Architecture
    Edificio Metrópolis: Landmark building featuring a stunning dome with a winged statue at the eastern start of the street.

    Edificio Carrión: Located at Plaza del Callao, iconic for its neon Schweppes sign and Art Deco design.

    Espacio Fundación Telefónica: A cultural center housed inside the historic Telefónica headquarters, a pioneering 1920s skyscraper.

    The Fountain of Neptune (Fuente de Neptuno) is a historic neoclassical monument located in Madrid, Spain. It forms the centerpiece of the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo along the famous Paseo del Prado. Given its location in Madrid Centro,
    Royal Project: Commissioned by King Charles III in the late 18th century as part of an urban modernization plan.The Designer: Planned by the renowned Spanish architect Ventura Rodríguez.The Sculptors: Carving began in 1780 by Juan Pascual de Mena and was completed in 1786 by his disciple José Arias.Symbolism: Designed to symbolize Spain's historical maritime power and navy reforms.Design and FeaturesThe Figure: Carved from white Montesclaros marble, it depicts a nude Neptune standing on a shell-shaped chariot.The Elements: Neptune holds a trident in his left hand and a coiled snake in his right.The Beasts: The chariot is drawn by two sea horses (hippocamps) and surrounded by spouting dolphins and seals.

    The Museo Nacional del Prado is Spain's premier national art museum, world-renowned for its vast collection of European masterpieces from the 12th to the 19th centuries.

    Plaza Major

    The city is getting ready for the Pope's visit tomorrow so lots of things are blocked off
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  • The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid) is the largest functioning royal palace in Western Europe, spanning over 135,000 square meters with 3,418 rooms. While it remains the official residence of the Spanish Monarchy, the royal family actually resides at the Palacio de la Zarzuela, leaving this monumental landmark primarily for state ceremonies, official receptions, and public tours.

    The Royal couple greeting pilgrims in front of their Palace 😉😁

    Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena
    The Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena is the principal Catholic church in Madrid and the episcopal seat of the capital's archdiocese. Located in the heart of the historic center, directly opposite the Royal Palace of Madrid, it is notable for its blend of architectural styles and for being the first cathedral consecrated outside Rome by Pope John Paul II, in 1993.

    In front of the cathedral

    The doors
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  • The Muslim Wall

    5. juni, Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    The Muslim Walls of Madrid (also known as the Arab Walls) are the oldest standing structures in the Spanish capital. They date back to the 9th century, a testament to the city's unique status as the only European capital founded by Muslims.The fortress city, originally named Mayrit, was established between 850 and 866 AD by Umayyad Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba to defend the northern borders of Al-Andalus from Christian advancements.

    While much of the original 1-kilometer wall has been built over or destroyed, significant sections are preserved and accessible to the public:Parque del Emir Mohamed I: This Andalusian-style park holds the most iconic and longest visible outdoor stretch of the wall. It features a traditional mosaic fountain and offers a direct look at the original limestone and flint construction.
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