PILGRIMAGE
The interesting sights along the Way are plentiful. A chapel we will visit near Ponte de Lima was the site of a “pious robbery” by the Archbishop of Santiago at the beginning of the XII century. He took the best pieces of the Chapel and brought them to Santiago. Perhaps as a divine compensation, this chapel was enriched in medieval times by the presence of St. Abadao, an Italian Saint who was returning from Santiago and decided to settle there. During his pilgrimage to Santiago, St. Francis of Assisi visited this chapel, since he took the same route we will be following on our first walking day. D. Manuel the 1st, King of Portugal, took in 1502 the same way along the sea we will be following on the second walking day. He went to Santiago to thank the Saint for the discovery of India (1498) and Brazil (1500) by the Portuguese explorers, and donated funds to build the Hostal dos Reyes Catolicos. We will stay for two days in Viana do Castelo. In that city, D. Manuel restored the Fortress of Santiago, which will be the place for the lectures and buffet lunch. In Viana, he provided financial support for the refurbishing of the Hostal of Pilgrims, originally built in 1468 and today known as the old Hospital (Hospital Velho). Along the coast we will pass the Chapel of Saint Isidoro, where St. James is said to have performed several miraculous cures.
As in 2004, the trip climax will be the arrival to the city of Santiago on Day 7 and the entrance to the Cathedral. Since 2010 is a Holy Year in Santiago (the second of this millennium), this entrance will be through the Holy Door (also known as the Door of Forgiveness), the Cathedral door that is open only on this occasion.
Stage 1: PORTO - VIANA
During Day 3 (the first walking day) we will tour Porto in the morning and walk from Ponte de Lima to Labruja along the Route Braga-Ponte de Lima-Valença (12 Km/7.4 miles) in the afternoon. This was the way followed by St. Francis of Assisi, the first Portuguese kings, and Queen Santa Isabel in 1325.
Stage 2: VIANA - BAIONA
During Day 5 (the second walking day) we will go from Âncora to Caminha (at the mouth of the Minho river) following the Porto-Viana do Castelo-Caminha-Valença- Tui route (12 Km/7.4 miles). This route, known as the “maritime way”, was taken by several kings and queens during the 18th and 19th centuries, including King D. Manuel the 1st in 1502. We will cross the Minho river in the city of Caminha using the ferry boat at the end of the Rua Direita (Straight street). On the other side of the river is A Guarda, a quaint harbour village featuring the Jesuit monastery where Manuel Oliveira, the legendary 100-year-old Portuguese film maker, studied as a teenager. A Guarda is located at the feet of the Santa Tecla mountain, a perfectly conical hill, where we will have lunch. At Santa Tecla there is a very interesting Citania (the remains of a fortified dwelling from the Second Iron age) and an Archeological Museum. The accompanying persons will visit Valença and Tui during the lectures’ day in Baiona.
Stage 3: BAIONA - SANTIAGO
Day 7 (the last walking day) will be the Spanish (Galician) portion of the trip. For this, we will be walking from San Martino to Santiago, following the route along Pontevedra and Padrón, where the corpse of the Saint is said to have been brought by boat.
PHOTOS
I International Pathology Meeting Along the Way to Santiago / 2004
Short description of I International Pathology Meeting Along the Way to Santiago / 2004
II International Pathology Meeting Along the Way to Santiago / 2010
Short description of II International Pathology Meeting Along the Way to Santiago / 2010