Today is one of our longest days, from El Parque Natural de Ria Barosa to San Miguel, but well worth it! After enjoying breakfast and then departing from El Parque Natural de Ria Barosa we will walk through the small town of Tivo. Our path today is a combination of Galician vineyards and shaded wooded paths.
Caldas de Reis is named after the hot thermal springs of Alfonso VII of León, who was born in Caldas de Reis in the 12th century. The village is still well known for its thermal hot springs and has always been a popular spot along the Roman road Vía XIX and the Camino. There’s even a place where we can soak our feet!
The 19th century Church of Saint Thomas Becket in Caldas de Reis, where the Saint stopped on his pilgrimage to Compostela in the 12th century. This is the only church in Spain dedicated to the English saint.
After a short uphill walk through mainly wooded areas and farmland and arrive to the town of Carracedo. We can stop to grab a café con leche and a stamp at the friendly bar in town where they let pilgrims write messages or just their names on the walls and ceiling!
After Carracedo we still have several hours of unspoilt farmland and dense forests until we reach San Miguel de Valga, a quiet village with a pleasant 18th century church. This is where we will finish our walk beteween El Parque Natural de Ria Barosa to San Miguel for today, before returning to Caldas de Reis for our meeting at dinner.
At our evening meeting our Fresco Tours guides will prepare us for the terrain tomorrow, explaining the map, where we will stop, and what to look at for on the path. Finally, we return to bed at our Galician manor home to rest for the day tomorrow!
