Stage Arcade to Pontevedra

The stage between Arcade and Pontevedra is one of the shortest of the Central Portuguese Way in its Galician section, with just over twelve kilometres covered in about three hours. Its profile is gentle, with a single climb of note, which makes it an ideal start for those who begin their pilgrimage here or who are looking for a warm-up day before the longer stages towards Santiago.

The route sets out from Arcade, a town nestled on the Ría de Vigo and renowned for its oysters, and soon descends to the River Verdugo to cross it by the bridge of Ponte Sampaio. This beautiful medieval bridge, with its solid stone arches, was in 1809 the scene of a decisive battle in which Galician troops halted the advance of Napoleon's army. On the far side of the river, the small hamlet of Pontesampaio still preserves the flavour of the old stops along the Camino.

After the bridge begins the only demanding stretch of the day: the climb of A Canicouva, an old cobbled roadway that rises among oaks, eucalyptus and stone walls to nearly one hundred and fifty metres in altitude. It is a shady, sheltered stretch, welcome in summer, which rewards the effort with the feeling of walking in the footsteps of pilgrims of centuries past.

Once the top is reached, the Camino descends gradually through the parish of Figueirido and approaches the valley of the River Lérez. The entry into Pontevedra is made through its outskirts before reaching the old town, one of the best preserved in Galicia. There, the pilgrim is welcomed by the sanctuary of the Virgin Pilgrim, a chapel shaped like a scallop shell, beside the lively Praza da Ferrería. The arcaded streets, the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor and the many squares invite a well-earned rest before setting off again towards Caldas de Reis.