Day 24 - Rest day in Biaona!

Distance – 6.5 miles (just walking around this small city)

Today was a rest day, and we took full advantage of it by sleeping in until 8:30. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast around 9:00 a.m., then decided to take a small stroll around the Parador in Baiona, Spain 🇪🇸.

We stayed close to the hotel and wandered through sections of the Old Town — mostly restaurants, ice cream shops, and little stores tucked along the streets. We also took two scenic walks around the fortress: one along the top of the ancient walls and another below them along the shoreline. Both were over a kilometer each, so we still managed to get some “shoe time” in today. Most of the pictures are from those walkabouts.

What we continue to find amazing is the incredible amount of history here — not only in Baiona, but throughout the Camino in general. Much of it was probably covered in World History class years ago, but actually standing in these places, reading the backstories, researching the sites, and seeing their historical significance firsthand gives everything a completely different feeling.

Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator and explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic changed world history. Sailing under the sponsorship of Spain, he was searching for a westward route to Asia but instead reached the Americas in 1492.

Columbus departed from the Spanish port of Palos de la Frontera on August 3, 1492, with three ships:• Niña• Pinta• Santa María

After stopping in the Canary Islands for repairs and supplies, the expedition crossed the Atlantic. After weeks without seeing land, the sailors grew nervous, fearing they might never return home.

On October 12, 1492, land was finally sighted — likely an island in today’s Bahamas. Columbus believed he had reached islands near Asia, so he called the local people “Indians.”

The Santa María later ran aground on Christmas Day 1492 and could not be saved. Columbus left some of his men behind at a settlement called La Navidad before returning to Spain.

One fascinating connection here in Baiona is that there is a true-size replica of the Pinta docked in the harbor. Historically, the Pinta arrived in Baiona in 1493 carrying the news of the discovery of the New World.

The Parador itself has some remarkable history of its own, along with several impressive monuments and statues throughout the property.

But aside from the history, the day itself was simply beautiful — sunny skies, an occasional cool breeze, and interesting people everywhere. Bob met an elderly couple from North Carolina who travel throughout Spain often and shared some wonderful stories of their adventures here. I was tired and fighting a cold so I too a nice afternoon nap .

Tonight will be a quiet evening — probably just tapas, a drink, and an early bedtime since tomorrow starts early. We’ll be up around 5:00 a.m. to leave for Vigo by 6:00 a.m. in hopes of beating the heat on what is expected to be about a 27 km walking day.

Hasta mañana, rumbo a Vigo!

A little history of the Parador de Baiona:

The Parador de Baiona is a luxurious hotel set within the medieval walls of the Monterreal Fortress. Half ancient fortress and half Neo-Gothic Galician manor, it is historically famous as the place where La Pinta docked in 1493 bearing news of the discovery of the Americas.

Key Historical Milestones:• 11th–17th Century: The Monterreal Peninsula served as a bustling fortified coastal town. Due to its strategic maritime location, it endured frequent attacks, most notably repelling Sir Francis Drake’s raid in 1585.• 16th Century: The Count of Gondomar, Don Diego Sarmiento de Acuña, transformed much of the fortress into the imposing structure seen today.• 19th Century: Its military role officially ended in 1859, and after years of decline, the site reopened as a Parador hotel in 1966.

Architectural Highlights:Today, the Parador de Baiona beautifully blends military history with aristocratic elegance.

• The Grand Entryway: A majestic ancient stone staircase welcomes guests in the reception area.• The Towers: The fortress walls are flanked by three historic towers, including the Torre del Príncipe, the oldest tower, which once served as a lighthouse.• The Grounds: Enclosed by nearly three miles of medieval walls, the property features seaside walking paths, pine groves, breathtaking Atlantic Ocean views, and vistas of the Cíes Islands.

This place is truly magnificent, and we feel blessed to have the opportunity to stay in such a historic hotel.Read more