After the beautiful visit to the medieval town of Tui, today we are expecting another short day. Ideal for those pilgrims who have decided to start their journey from Tui, the closest starting point to Santiago de Compostela, something more than 100 kilometres, that allows us to get the Compostela.
Let’s go on the Camino Portugues!
Today’s stage runs through a semi-urban environment, with plenty of asphalt and continuous crossing of roads. Fortunately, some stretches run through pleasant wooded areas, parallel to the River Louro, and an alternative route has been designed that allows dodging the tedious industrial estate of As Gándaras.
If you are thinking about walking the Camino de Santiago from Tui tell us what your plans are for the Camino de Santiago and we will contact you to advise you on everything you need.
Itinerary stage Tui – O Porriño
Today’s short stage, slightly more than 16 kilometres, does not imply any difficulty on its course. Unevenness is negligible.
Tui (Km. 0). Beginning of stage
Practical tips for this section: For those of you who start the Camino de Santiago in Tui, if you have the afternoon off or start the day early, we recommend that you take advantage to visit the fortress of Valença do Minho, located three kilometres away. Buen Camino!
We started today’s route from Town Hall Square. We take Das Monxas Street crossing, in descent, the passage of the Convent of the Clarisas and descend by Tindel Street. At Plaza da Armada Square, where a stone cross is located, turn left, along Antero Rubin Street.
We pass in front of the Church of Santo Domingo and continue straight along Canonigo Valiño Street. After a curve, turn right to follow San Bartolomeu Street. At the back of the Church of San Bartolomeu de Rebordans, we take a path of land that leads us next to the medieval bridge, Ponte da Veiga, which crosses the River Louro, being on our right (km. 1.8).
We do not cross the bridge, but we continue in the same direction, along the dirt road, crossing a wooded section. Soon after, we reach a local road, which we follow to the right, and that flows onto the N-550 road.
We cross the road and, 80 metres later, we turn right to enter Virxe do Miño, a Parish of Rebordans, passing by its chapel.
Virxe do Camiño (Km. 3,2)
Practical tips for this section: You will not find many services during this section, except for a few vending machines in Magdalena. Buen Camino!
Then begins a stretch of a couple of kilometres along the road PO-342 that leads us to cross the A-55 motorway, by a flyover. We continue along the red lane for pedestrian cyclists to a lower step that allows us to cross the AP-9 motorway.
At the Paredes intersection, (km. 5.3) we turn right, leaving the road. We will soon find a footbridge that allows us to cross the AP-9, to go into a beautiful forested section.
By the Bridge of San Telmo or das Febres, across a boardwalk, we pass over the San Simón River and follow our journey, sheltered by the vegetation of the River Louro, to the village of La Magdalena.
After a house, where vending machines have been placed, we cross the road and continue straight ahead. At the exit of the locality, we find a Calvary formed by five crosses. At the 106.8km stone, we turn right and cross a beautiful slab bridge over the River Louro (km. 7.9).
We continue on another pleasant stretch, always following the widest route, and we arrive at the locality of Orbenlle (km. 8.8). In this locality we find two itineraries.
The alternative, 500 metres longer but much more enjoyable than that which runs through the As Gándaras Industrial Estate, one of the ugliest sections of the Camino Portugues.
Orbenlle (ruta alternativa por el río) (Km. 8,8)
Practical advice for this section: Fortunately, in 2013, the Xunta de Galicia and AGACS (Galician Association of Friends of the Way), designed and signposted an alternative route that avoids the Industrial estate of O Porriño, saving us crossing a lot of asphalt.
We recommend following this magnificent route, through the natural space of As Gándaras, next to the River Louro. Buen Camino!
The alternative route begins 300 metres after the 106.048 km stone to Santiago, in an entrance on the left, next to a sign. The path descends slightly surrounded by dense vegetation, until the ford of A Ponte Baranco, on the River Louro. Then it crosses the winter pass.
From here, a dirt road surrounded by vineyards and trees runs until reaching an asphalted track, which goes into the Parish of San Xurso de Monsede, crossing the centres of Monte, Vides and Cruceiro. Later, we find another winter pass, known as the step of Botate, which leads us to a path of land.
After this, following a local track we enter the Parish of Santiago de Pontellas, finding the Cross of Mortos across our path, followed by a magnificent cross, which is located on the old Camino Real to Vigo.
We pass by the Chapel of San Carpio and its cross and then, next to the Quinta do Adro or Da Inquisicion, where the pilgrim path separates from the Camino Real.
By a pedestrian lane and for cyclists we reach a path that runs along the River Louro. Following the path, and leaving the channel to the right, ignoring the arrows that indicate that we cross the river, we go into O Porriño.
Orbenlle (ruta por el polígono) (Km. 8,8)
Practical tips for this section: The most conservative may prefer to opt for the original layout and traverse the Industrial Estate of As Gándaras. Before making the decision you should know that you will pass through the largest polygon in Galicia and that this section is considered one of the ugliest on the Camino Portugues. Buen Camino!
Those who decide to follow the traditional route that crosses the polygon must cross Orbenlle on the paved road, to the rest area. From this point, the environment changes completely and the Industrial Estate of As Gándaras, the largest of the whole Galician community opens before our eyes.
We cross the polygon by a boring and infinite line, about three kilometres. We say goodbye to the polygon, crossing the railway via an enormous metallic platform (km. 12.3) and we pass onto the national road N-550, under the A-55 motorway. We complete it, leaving it on our left and we enter O Porriño, by Manuel Rodríguez Street.
When you arrive at a traffic light (km. 14.3), turn left to take the right-hand side to San Sebastián Street, where the chapel of the same name is located. Shortly after, we pass by the side of the San Benito Chapel.
When you leave Fernández Street, the apse of the Church of Santa Maria appears before our eyes. We join Ramón González, to arrive at La Casa do Concello (km. 16.2), we turn left on Buenos Aires Avenue, we pass over the level crossing and we continue straight on, to the centre of O Porriño.
O Porriño (Km. 16,2). End of stage
Practical tips for this section: In this locality, you will find all kinds of services. See you tomorrow!
In O Porriño, you will find all kinds of services, besides an interesting cultural heritage to visit, like the Chapels of San Benito, Santa Maria or do Cristo. As well as other points of interest: The Fuente do Cristo, the Temple of San Luis or the building of the Botica Nova.
Pilgrims who have a better physical condition, given the short course of this stage, may wish to continue until Redondela. If that is your case, you should know that at the roundabout that we find, after passing the Town Hall, instead of deviating to the left to enter O Porriño, you must go straight ahead, towards Mos.
Comments stage Tui – O Porriño
Here are some recommendations for today’s stage. If you start the Camino Portugues in Tui, we also explain here how to get to the small medieval town.
How to get to Tui
The city of Tui is well connected to any means of transportation. If you arrive by plane, you must take a flight to Oporto, Vigo or Santiago, the three nearest airports, and from there you transfer to Tui by train, bus or taxi.
If you arrive from Spain by train, you can take one of the RENFE lines that start their journey in Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao or Madrid and pass through Guillarei (Pontevedra), where you can link with Tui.
It is also possible to take a bus from the main Spanish cities (Vigo, Madrid, Sevilla, Bilbao or Barcelona).
If you do not want to worry about the transfer to Tui, or the logistics associated for the 5 or 6 days you have left ahead, until your arrival at the tomb of Santiago the Apostle, you can get in touch with us and we take care of organizing everything.
Precautions stage Tui – O Porriño
During this stage you will advance along many stretches by road, sometimes by curbs without sidewalks, therefore, the precautions must be extreme. There are also some road crossings that are not well signposted, make sure well before crossing, especially at the junction of the N-550 in Virxe do Miño.
In some sections where we go into wooded areas, pilgrims who make the Camino de Santiago by bicycle or people with mobility can follow the route of the N-550 to avoid the difficulties of the pavement.
Otherwise, the stage does not imply any major difficulties. It is well signposted and runs through a basically flat terrain.
Gastronomy stage Tui – O Porriño
Here are some culinary recommendations for you to enjoy Galician cuisine.
- Eels and Lamprey
- Empanada (Pie)
- Sweets made by the nuns of the Clarisas Convent
- Bread from O Porriño, baked with firewood and with a very fluffy crumb
- Tripe from O Porriño
- Honey
Services stage Tui – O Porriño
Meet the main health care services, cafes, ATMs, restaurants and are in this stage of the Portuguese Way of St. James.
Map stage Tui – O Porriño
Consult the map with the route, points and towns along the stage.
Profile stage Tui – O Porriño
Consult the profile of the stage: altitude and degree of difficulty of each section.
What to do stage Tui – O Porriño
Below we give you details of some places that you can visit during your stage today.
Puente de San Telmo
The San Telmo Bridge is located next to Ribadelouro, on the River San Simón. This is a Portuguese Baroque-style building. The bridge is also called Ponte das Febres, because, according to the legend, it was on this bridge where the patron of Tui, Pedro Gonzalez Telmo, contracted a high fever that ended his life.
O Porriño
O Porriño is a municipality in the province of Pontevedra, which has almost 19,000 inhabitants. The town has a great cultural heritage, such as the Chapels of San Benito, Santa Maria or do Cristo. As well as other points of interest such as the Fuente do Cristo, the Temple of St. Lous or the Botica Nova.
Casa Consistorial
The current Town Hall in O Porriño was built in 1924 and stands in the place where formerly was located the Old City Hall, which was in very deteriorated. However, in 1976, the Town Hall suffered a great fire that forced to restore the building completely, expanding two floors and remodelling the square that gives access to it.
The construction is the work of the architect Antonio Palacios. The building has a nice portico that gives continuity to the area of arcades in the square.
In the building you can also see architectural elements inspired by the fortress cathedrals of the Middle Ages, such as the battlements that culminate the towers, the large buttresses that surround them and the high areas of the building.
The construction also highlights the decoration of concave and convex garlands at the bottom of the porches, as well as the small blind arches that ornament their inner curves.
Monte O Castelo de Cans
The Monte or Castelo de Cans, also known as “O Pianista” for the aspect that, over the years, has acquired this rock, is crowned by an ancient medieval fortress. It dates back to the 11th century and is known as O Castelo de Miravel. Some vestiges are still preserved of its original construction.
Capilla de San Benito
The Chapel of San Benito is located in the city centre of O Porriño, presiding over a square. It is a baroque-style chapel, with a facade of masonry blocks, soberly ornamented with geometric shapes.
Capilla de Santa María
La capilla de Santa María se encuentra en O Porriño y es considerada la iglesia parroquial de la localidad. El templo data de finales del siglo XVIII. Se tiene constancia de que, en el pasado, veneraba a Nuestra Señora de la O, pero en la actualidad está consagrada a la Purísima Concepción.
Información práctica:
Horario de misas: Todos los días. En verano, de lunes a viernes (19:30 y 20:30), sábados (18:00 y 19:30) y domingos (9:00 y 12:00). En invierno, de lunes a viernes (18:30 y 19:30), sábados (19:00 y 20:30) y domingos (9:00, 12:00 y 13:00).
Templete de San Luis
The Temple of San Luis is located in the city of O Porriño. It is a rectangular-based monument that until the end of the 20th century served as an entrance to the old Madrid Metro station of the San Luis network, now known as Gran Via de Madrid.
The temple is the work of the architect Antonio Palacios, natural of the locality of O Porriño. It is for this reason that in the 1970s it was donated to the municipality.
Fuente do Cristo
The Fuente do Cristo de O Porriño was built in 1904, in the place where an old cross was located. The construction is the work of the architect Antonio Palacios, a local person.
The source is structured in two parts. The first has an octagonal base, held by four supports that helps it to stand above the square, and is surrounded by eight small but thick columns.
In the other part of the fountain are located the water channels, alternating with ornamental elements of floral motifs. On the water channel is a classical-styled column, which rests on a protruding octagonal body, which is topped with a capital with vegetal ornamentation.
On it stands the Statue of a knight that holds the shield of O Porriño and a spear. This sculpture is the work of Master Cerviño.
Capilla do Cristo
The Capilla do Cristo is located in the town of O Porriño. The construction was carried out in 1898, thanks to Servando Ramio Nieves, who donated the land and costed all the expenses of the construction, having the desire to build a temple in honour of Cristo de la Agonia.
The temple is presided over by the figure of the Cristo de la Agonia. On the sides of the main altar you can see two other elevations of small proportions.
Botica Nova
The Botica Nova de O Porriño is a building built in 1912 by Antonio Palacios. The construction was carried out with the aim of hosting a pharmacy and to serve as residence to the architect’s brother, José Palacios.
The building is characterized by dispensing with the decoration of the time, emphasizing in this only the structural traces. The access to the building is framed by a large arch that breaks the union of vertical and horizontal lines of the façade.
