Primitivo Way from Oviedo by bike

You can reach Oviedo by your own means or we can arrange a transfer from any airport or station you arrive at.

If you have the time, we recommend to walk around the town centre and visit San Salvador cathedral, the city hall or Foncalada fountain, as well as the old hospice or San Miguel de Lillo church, declared Asset of Cultural Interest and World Heritage Site, respectively.

It was Asturian king Alfonso II the Chaste who first walked this route from Oviedo to worship the recently found remains of the apostle. Thus, in this first stage, you will emulate by bike the first steps of the former monarch.

Along the way, you will pass by Grado, where you can visit the Martínez Family’s mansion or Indalecio Corujedo’s palace. Once in Salas, where this stage ends, apart from enjoying a good rest after this long cycling session, you may visit the collegiate church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Valdés Palace and Tower or the musem of the pre-romanesque.

This stage begins with an ascent of a little over 5 kilometres to Porciles, at some 600 metres of altitude. From here, the route continues along practically flat terrain, across small villages such as La Pereda or El Pedregal, lacking most of them in services, but brimming with Jacobean tradition. Once in Tineo, you can take a little rest and visit places such as San Pedro church, the museum of the gold or the Merás palace.

From here, as in a roller coaster, you will go up and down several times, through valleys and forests bathed by rivers, until you reach the end of today’s stage, Pola de Allande, where you will be able to give your legs a very well deserved rest.

Pola de Allande is one of the Asturian villages where the eonaviego is spoken, a linguistic variant of the Galician-Asturian language. This village is also known for the Cienfuegos palace, located on top of a hill. This palace once belonged to the Ponce lineage and, later, it was rebuilt by Rodrigo González de Cienfuegos, lord of Allande.

This stage is considered one of the most beautiful ones of the entire Primitive Way, as it conquers Puerto del Palo, at a little over 1000 metres of altitude, and from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the river Nisón valley and the nearby mountains of Lugo region. This reward is not for free, though, since you will endure uphill slopes with a gradeability of up to 5%.

You will pass by La Mesa and the Salime reservoir, bathed by the river Navia. The construction of this reservoir changed completely this area’s orography and appearance, as it flooded inhabited areas, as well as churches and graveyards. After crossing the dam, you will start a slow but constant ascent to Grandas de Salime, the last stretch within Asturian territory.

Once here, you will need some rest, although there are interesting places to see, if you have some energy left, like the Pedreira hermitage, El Salvador collegiate church or the Roman tunnels of Penafurada.

Today you will officially enter the Galician territory, being Acebo the very first village you will encounter. When you arrive at A Fonsagrada, take some time to visit the hórreos (raised granaries) of Lamas de Moreira or San José chapel, as well as its ethnographic museum. As you resume the journey, you will face a tough but rewarding stretch, as you cycle along tracks and paths surrounded by pine forests and lush vegetation, offering incredible views.

Once you arrive at O Cádavo, end point of today’s journey, feel free to take a well-deserved rest and, if you feel like you have some energy left, visit A Fraga da Marronda, a perfectly preserved Galician native forest, covering an area of 611 hectares, approximately.

This will be a short an easy stage that will allow you to balance out the effort of the previous days. Over 30 kilometres, you will enjoy the beauty of the Galician countryside, passing by many little villages, hamlets and archeological remains full of history.

Once in Lugo, take a stroll along the Roman wall, one of the oldest and better preserved Roman walls in the Iberian peninsula. Furthermore, Lugo’s old town has numerous churches and squares that you can visit, as well as St Mary’s cathedral. The gastronomy is also one of the main attractions of the town.

Today you will cross from Lugo province to that of A Coruña. You will cycle past San Romao da Retorta and its Romanesque church, refurbished in the 18th century, close to which a Roman milestone dating from the times of the emperor Caligula was found, although nowadays there is only a replica.

At your arrival in Melide, you will encounter the pilgrims coming from the French Way and leave behind the peace and quiet of the Primitive route, starting to sense that the end of the journey is close. Melide is famous all across Galicia for the octopus, which you should not miss out on.

Just a little over 50 kilometres keep you away from Praza do Obradoiro and the so-longed Cathedral of Santiago. This stage will take you through charming little hamlets like Ribadiso and bigger villages such as Arzúa, where pilgrims coming from the Northern Way join in. Furthermore, you can make a stop at the cheese and honey dissemination centre in Arzúa, local products of great value.

The last few kilometres run along quiet service roads, with very little housing around and with the only downside of having to cross the national road several times, which can be a little dangerous at times. Once you get to Monte do Gozo, the towers of the cathedral will appear in sight for the first time since you began this adventure, and soon you will reach them, so ending this wonderful experience.

Take your time to wander through Santiago’s old town and visit the many attractions that make up this place. If you have the opportunity, spend here one or two more days to make the most of your stay, visiting as well nearby places, such as Fisterra, A Coruña or Rías Baixas.Take your time to wander through Santiago’s old town and visit the many attractions that make up this place. If you have the opportunity, spend here one or two more days to make the most of your stay, visiting as well nearby places, such as Fisterra, A Coruña or Rías Baixas.