Stage Valença do Minho to O Porriño

The stage between Valença do Minho and O Porriño is the opening day in Spain for pilgrims who begin the Central Portuguese Camino from the Alto Minho. At under twenty kilometres and with a gentle profile, it is a symbolic transition between two countries joined by the pilgrim tradition and separated by the course of the Miño. The route combines military, religious and rural heritage, and allows the first day to be tackled without great physical demands.

The start is made from inside the Fortaleza de Valença, one of the best-preserved bastioned enclosures in Europe. After passing through the Porta do Sol, the Camino descends to the Puente Internacional over the Miño, a metal structure from the late 19th century whose deck is shared by the railway and pedestrians. The crossing of the river, with views of the fortress cathedral of Tui high on its hill, is one of the most photographed moments on the whole Portuguese route.

Now in Galician territory, the itinerary climbs through the narrow streets of the old town of Tui to the Catedral de Santa María, a fortified Romanesque-Gothic church from the 12th century. After stamping the credential, the pilgrim leaves the city along rúa Antero Rubín and crosses the bridge over the river Louro. From here the pilgrim must choose between the short variant through the industrial estate of As Gándaras and the recommended one via Orbenlle, longer but infinitely more pleasant, which runs among carballos, oaks and old cruceiros.

The Orbenlle variant crosses Ribadelouro and the chapel of the Virgen del Camino, skirts the flanks of Monte Aloia — the first natural park declared in Galicia — and continues along forest tracks with gentle short climbs. The hamlets of Centeáns and Orbenlle itself offer fountains, rest areas and the odd tavern in which to recover strength before the final section, which drops gently down to join the entrance to O Porriño through the parque de la Pasaxe.

O Porriño welcomes the walker with a rúa Ramón González oriented towards the Camino, its town hall, the work of the local architect Antonio Palacios, and a notable range of places to eat and drink. Known as the granite capital of the world for its quarries of pink stone, the town has several hostels and hotels concentrated around the urban centre, and it is the natural close to this first day in Galicia before continuing towards Redondela.