Today we begin to prepare for the final stretch of our journey along the Camino Frances. Three days before arriving in Santiago de Compostela, contradictory emotions begin to mingle. On the one hand, the joy of reaching our destiny: the tomb of Santiago the Apostle. On the other, the sadness of leaving a path that has given us such special moments. Fortunately, we still have three days left.
From this stage, we join up with the Camino Frances!!
During this day, the pilgrim should not be in a hurry, if you want to enjoy it, as it is a day full of legends and places with healing powers.
The stage begins in Melide, with its numerous attractions and the possibility to taste an exquisite dish, Galician style Octopus. And it ends in Arzua, where we will meet up with the pilgrims from the Camino Primitivo.
If you are thinking of doing the Camino de Santiago from Lugo, tell us what your plans are for the Camino de Santiago, and we will contact you to advise you on everything that you need.
Itinerary stage Melide – Arzúa
Today’s terrain does not contain many difficulties. However, some climbs can be somewhat hard, depending on the physical condition of each of us. Throughout the whole day, we ascend a total of 350 metres in height.
Melide (km. 14,8). Beginning of stage
Practical tips for this section: In Melide we expect traditional octopus restaurants and various places of interest. If you follow our advice and enjoy, without haste, the Camino de Santiago, leaving the town will take you a while.
In its streets you can visit the old pilgrims’ hospital, now the Museo da Terra de Melide, the Convent of Sancti Spiritus and its church, the Chapel of San Antonio and the 18th-century Town Hall.
It is also necessary to stop and visit the fountain of Cuatro Caños. You can also visit the Chapel of San Roque, next to the stone cross that bears the same name. If you have time, you can also visit the Carmen Chapel and the Casa de la Cultura.
The path is retaken next to the Chapel of San Antonio, by the street that has the same name. We go around the public hostel and leave Melide by the main street. With the landscape of the valley as scenery, we go down to the N-547, we cross and we take the road the straight ahead on the CP-4603 towards San Martiño. When we arrive at the grill restaurant, turn right to visit the Church of Santa Maria de Melide (km. 15.6).
Following the path, and after passing the houses of A Carballal, the environment envelops us with the fragrance of the eucalyptus. We advance through meadows to the cobbled passage of the River Catasol (km. 17.2) and let ourselves be seduced by the beauty of the landscape, almost like a postcard.
Surrounded by this bucolic environment we head to Raido, located at the foot of the road N-547. We quickly continue to Parabispo, now in the municipality of Arzúa (km. 18.7). Then we cross Arroyo de Valverde, pass through Peroxa and enter Boente.
Boente (km. 20,5)
Practical tips for this section: Do not forget to get close to the Fonte A Saleta de Boente. Buen Camino!
Boente is divided into two by the national road that crosses it. After visiting the Fonte A Saleta and the Church of Santiago, from the same temple we turn to the right and descend by a relay to the River Boente. Then we head to Punta Brea, crossing the N-547 through a tunnel.
We go around some meadows; we face a hard climb to the foot of the N-547. Advancing parallel to this, we reach the parishes of Figueiroa and Castañeda (km. 22.7).
After this last hamlet, we descend by an asphalted track until the Arroyo de Ribeira, located between Pedrido and Río (km. 23.3). We ascend again and leave aside the detour to Doroña, continuing straight ahead.
Then by neighbourhood paths, we return to descend for two kilometres to the Iso River, which gives access to the village of Ribadiso da Baixo, in the Parish of Rendal (km. 25.8). After crossing the medieval bridge, we arrive at the Pilgrims’ hospital of San Antón, now transformed into a public hostel. Taking a detour, we go up to the N-547 and we enter the Avenida de Lugo, until getting to Arzúa.
Arzúa (km. 28,5). End of the stage
Practical tips for this section: the town of Arzúa is surrounded by legends and miracles, discover them! We’ll tell you some, but I’m sure talking to the locals will explain many more. See you tomorrow!
The end of today’s stage is a magical place, full of legends and miracles. In addition, it is the point at which the Camino Primitivo converges with the Camino Frances,, so it is common for pilgrims to gather together and comment on the experiences of one or the other Jacobean path.
If you visit the town during the 24th of June and you are a woman, you can be one of the lucky ones who is selected to put her name on El Muro de las Estrellas. If it is not June 24th, don’t worry because the place has many places to visit, such as places with healing power as the Chapel of A Mota or Fonte Santa.
You can also visit the Parish Church of Santiago and the Chapel of the Magdalena. As well as various places destined to study and promote two of the most important products in the area: cheese and honey. If you are interested in their production, you can visit the Living Museum of Honey or the Cheese and Honey Promotion Centre.
Comments on the stage Melide – Arzúa
Today’s stage has a reputation as a leg-breaker, but to get over the effort it also has an exquisite cuisine. Now we’ll talk about it.
Precautions stage Melide – Arzúa
Some sections of today’s stage are hard because they have numerous ups and downs, with little-conserved slopes. This will make it possible for people with reduced mobility to study the possibility of following the route of the LU-664 road, however, this option contains a certain risk, since it is a road lacking in hard shoulders.
For cyclists the difficulty of today’s day is moderate. They should be extremely cautious on descents and have the right bicycle.
People who do not enjoy the proper physical preparation or prefer to enjoy calmly the wonders that this stage hides, can divide the route into two stages. One of Palas from Rei to Melide and another from Melide to Arzúa, both with a distance of approximately 15 kilometres.
If from Sarria, the pilgrim who had been travelling on the trail for days, felt an increase in the influx of pilgrims, they will now experience a similar sensation. In Melide the Camino Frances and the Camino Primitivo converge, which translates into a greater concentration of people. They are all headed for the same destination, the Tomb of the Holy Apostle.
Due to the above, both in Melide and in Arzúa the accommodations are quickly filled. If you do not want to worry about these details, remember that, if you wish, we can manage the logistical aspects of your route.
Food on the stage Melide – Arzúa
On today’s route octopus, cheese and honey will be the protagonists. Now we will talk about each of them.
- Melide’s Octopus A Feira is a classic of this stage. A dish made with boiled octopus and seasoned with olive oil, paprika and salt. Some establishments such as the Pulpería de Ezequiel or Garnacha are classic stops to taste this dish.
- Traditional pastries such as sponge fingers, syrup-glazed doughnuts, or sweets known as “Rico” butter baked biscuits.
- Arzúa-Ullua cheeses
- Arzúa honey.
Services on the stage Melide – Arzúa
Get to know the main healthcare services, cafes, ATMs and restaurants that are located on this stage of the Camino primitivo.
Map from Melide to Arzúa
Check the map with the route and locations that the stage runs through.
Profile stage Melide – Arzúa
Find out about the profile, altitude and degree of difficulty on each section.
What to do on the stage Melide – Arzúa
To find out what to see and what to do on this stage, you can go to the section about What to see and what to do on stage 31 of the Camino Frances.
- Go to <<< Stage 11 on the Camino Primitivo
- Go to >>> Stage 32 on the Camino Francés
