Etapa #11. Puentecesures - Santiago de Compostela

We start this end with the variant passing through Armenteira, Vilanova de Arousa and Pontecesures where it rejoins the Central Way to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.


11th STAGE
Pontecesures - Padrón - Santiago de Compostela

This last stage of the “Portuguese Coastal Path” passes largely through asphalt and urbanized areas, following the national N-550, which we have crossed four times today. As far as the slopes are concerned, it is worth mentioning the moderate and progressive climb to Agro dos Monteiros, in O Milladoiro.  In the cultural sphere, in addition to Santiago with its extraordinary cathedral, it is worth mentioning the beautiful collegiate church of Iria Flavia, which was the first cathedral in Galicia;  in its cemetery, under an olive tree, we find the humble tomb of Camilo José Cela.

We cross Campo da Feira in front of the Church of Santiago (Padrón), continue along Murgadán street and, after a right turn , we approach the national N-550 diagonally, which we reach after crossing a channel of the River Sar.  We cross the N-550, the path takes us to the back of the Iria Flavia Church.

We return to the N-550 and follow, on your right, a path that takes us to the train line, which we cross carefully, then cross the N-550 again to follow the path to the left.  We cross a series of small urban-rural centers until we reach the Shrine of Slavery.

We continue in the same direction, cross the avenue Muiño Vello and follow a path to the right.  We cross the villages of O Porto de Conxo, A Rocha Nova and A Ponte Vella.  We continue until we find two landmarks, one with an arrow on the right, the option to reach Santiago via Conxo, the other with an arrow on the left, the option to reach Santiago via Santa Marta.  We opted for the latter, continued on and shortly afterwards followed Avenida da Choupana and then Avenida Rosalía de Castro to the historic center.  We can already feel Santiago now, Rua do Franco takes us to the Plaza del Obradoiro itself, in front of the Cathedral of Santiago.  We're arrived!💫💫💫💫💫