Today we walk from Burgos to Hornillos. Today the Meseta begins. Leaving the University area of Burgos, we work our way to Hornillos del Camino, a beautiful medieval village with a Gothic Church. The name Hornillos possibly originates from small oven or kiln.
This stage stands out for the intriguing murals in Rabé de las Calzadas and for the iconic descent into Hornillos. This image has been reproduced a million times and has become one of the most representative images of not only the Meseta but of the whole Camino.
The murals in Rabé de la Calzada
You will have most likely seen a lot of mural art along Chapter 2. For example, Belorado in La Rioja boasts some fine examples. However, Rabé de las Calzadas perhaps presents pilgrims with some of the more intriguing murals on the whole Camino. These large murals have been painted by the local religious community Las Hijas de la Caridad (Daughters of Charity). The community has apparently been in Rabé de la Calzada for over 100 years, carrying out charitable and religious work in the area. They also try to convey the Gospel message with murals on the facades of the neighbors homes that are on the Camino. We must assume they are granted permission first. Perhaps what pilgrims may find most striking when facing these murals is their somewhat modern twist on contemporary issues tying in religious messages.
