This is the first Galician stage in the Portuguese Way. It is an easy and well indicated stage. You have to take into account that when it comes to getting to Tui’s cathedral there are some uphill.
Once you cross the frontier you are in Pontevedra in Galicia, you will cross the international bridge built in 1886 and is the geographical and political boundary between Spain and Portugal. Crossing this bridge you will have the opportunity of seeing the best views in today’s stage. You will see Tui for the first time and also all its cultural heritage.
There are just 115 kilometers to get to Santiago. You will start descending to get to the Minho river to walk through a fluvial path that will offer a wonderful landscape, then you will walk through vineyards to get to a wonderful forest. But to get to this place first you will first have to walk through a national road and also through an industrial area. You can take an alternative route that has just 500 meters more to avoid crossing the industrial area.
After crossing the international bridge you will go to the left and you will enter in Tui walking through its wonderful streets such as Obispo Maceira, Piñeiro or Sanz. These streets and also the yellow arrows will take you to its old jail that is nowadays a market and also to its cathedral. The route will take you to the most important monuments and streets in this city and then you will get to Rebordans. In this village, you will see the Iglesia de San Bartolomeu church that is one of the oldest sanctuaries in Galicia. Then you will have to walk the path that you will find next to the sanctuary. This path will lead you to A Picoña, once you get there you will enter in the N-550 a national road that goes up to A Coruña and that will be your companion in most part of the way until you get to Santiago de Compostela. You will have to cross this road to get to a path that will lead you to Virxe do Camiño.
After crossing Virxe do Camiño you will have to walk through an asphalted road to get to Ponte de San Telmo also known as Puente das Febres that is a bridge over the Louro river and that will lead you to A Magdalena.
Once you leave A Magdalena you will walk through Ribadelouro’s road to get to a wonderful path far from the asphalt and that will lead you to Orbenlle, the first village that belongs to O Porriño.
Once you get to this point you can continue through the traditional way and cross the industrial area or go through the alternative route. This alternative route has been adapted and has the appropriate signals. You will walk through a wonderful landscape next to the Louro river to get to O Porriño. This alternative has just 500 meters more than the original route.
The original route continues through Orbenlle and its rest area and crosses the industrial area through one of its main roads. You will also have to cross the trail rail to get again to the N-550 and continue to O Porriño’s city center.
Most part of pilgrims conclude here this stage, but there are others that decide to get to Mos or even to Redondela. It is up to you, most people make their decision depending on the number of kilometers that they have walked until this moment. There are 6 kilometers to get to Mos and 16 to get to Redondela, approximately.
If you decide to stay the night in Redondela you have to know that here you will find all kind of establishments.
Remember.
We walk by your side! If you have any doubt about this stage or about other stages, please contact us, we will help you. Have a nice Way, pilgrim! Have a nice Way, pilgrim!
What to eat
- Typical fish from the Minho river
- Typical pastries made by Clarisa’s nuns
- Typical bread from O Porriño
- Typical tripe from O Porriño
- Honey
Bear in mind
You have to take into account that there are lots of parts of this stage that goes through the national road so you have to be very careful. Sometimes you will have to walk through the hard shoulder with no pavements and also cross the road with no pedestrian crossings, so the best option is to wear a reflective vest; the cars will see you soon. There are some parts in this stage that go through meadows that cyclist and people with reduced mobility could avoid going through the N-550 towards Santiago.
What to see
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Bike rental |
Medical assistance |
Coffe bar |
Teller |
Pharmacy |
Hotel |
Touristic Information |
Guesthouse |
Restaurant |
Supermarket |
Veterinarian |
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O Porriño |
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