Lugo to Ponte Ferreira

Leaving the impressive city of Lugo involves a journey that immerses the pilgrim once again in deeper and more solitary Galicia. The profile is undulating but without great difficulties, allowing for an enjoyable walk. The departure from Lugo is long and urban, but once the outskirts are passed, the road enters a predominantly rural landscape. The route follows part of the ancient Roman roads, connecting small villages and scattered farmhouses. This stage has few intermediate services, so it's essential to plan well the stops and bring water and some food. The landscape is dominated by "sega prairies" (sheep shearing meadows), oak forests ("carballeiras") and eucalyptus plantations. It's a journey to enjoy the silence, broken only by the sounds of the countryside, and to appreciate traditional Galician architecture, with its stone houses, hórreos and crosses. The end of this stage is located in San Román da Retorta, a village with a Romanesque church that was an important stop on the medieval Jacobean route. Today, most pilgrims continue for two kilometers further to A Ponte Ferreira, in the municipality of Palas de Rei, where there's a greater range of services.