Etapa #10. Caldas de Reis - Puentecesures - Padrón (Galicia)

For me, one, if not the most beautiful and interesting of the Galician section of the Portuguese Way.

We leave Caldas de Reis without delay, leaving it along the first street on the left, crossing a beautiful Ponte Medieval do Río Bermaña that is at the end of the street. A little further on La Capela de San Roque, for a short stretch after which we will cross to the right to follow a narrow path between houses.
Followed in the same direction by a long and beautiful wooded stretch until we reached and crossed the Valga River over a bridge where we made a stop and in this midwinter I took a quick dip in the cool water.

Be carefull! 👀 only for the brave and not afraid of a quick cold, then you get warm quickly. Then we advance like this, along quiet dirt roads, cobbled or asphalt. Until you reach the PO-214 road, at the entrance to Pontecesures, a municipality with just over 3,000 inhabitants. The Roman engineers built an important port here and built the long and strategic bridge that allowed to cross the passage of the Ulla river, giving continuity to its Via XIX.

The current bridge has its origin in said Roman bridge, from the 1st century, which was later subjected to reforms. Before crossing the bridge, we pass by the beautiful Romanesque church of San Xulián. We have turned left, crossing the railway line and we arrive in front of a house with a sculpture of Santiago on a column.
We cross the Pontecesures bridge over the Ulla river, entering the province of A Coruña, finally entering Padrón with about 4,000 inhabitants. It is the second most important town linked to the life of the apostle Santiago, and therefore to his worship, after Compostela itself.

Padrón has a deep connection with the world of literature through two highly relevant characters: Rosalía de Castro and Camilo José Cela. The poet and novelist was born in Santiago, although she spent part of her life and she died in Padrón. Nobel Cela was born in Iria Flavia, where he is buried; It is a small parish linked to Padrón through which we passed at the exit. In Padrón, on the pleasant Paseo del Espolón, there are statues on both sides.

Padrón peppers are one of the best-known vegetables in all Galicia and one of the most famous tapas in Spanish cuisine. Although they are known by the name of the town, the peppers originate from Herbón; they were imported from Mexico by Monjes Franciscan from the convent at the end of the 16th century. They are served fried with salt. In the vicinity of the Padrón municipal market, the "pementeras" sell them gather. There its original name "PEMENTOS".
Here in Padrón there are many pulperías which is an obligatory stop to enjoy the good quality of Galician Octopus🐙.

To keep in mind 👆
- At this time of year (winter) few restaurants and bars are open.

GOOD WAY!