The Way to Santiago "The Origin": The Barbanza and Sar Way

The Barbanza and Sar Way “The Origin” is a recovered Jacobean route that follows a historical itinerary from the Corrubedo lighthouse through the Barbanza peninsula to Santiago de Compostela, connecting with the traditional Portuguese Way. Over more than 120 km and several stages, it traverses coastal and rural landscapes of Galicia and recalls the tradition of the Apostle's arrival through the Ría de Arousa and the Ulla River, offering a less crowded pilgrimage experience rich in heritage and nature.

As the saying goes, "all roads lead to Rome," and also to Santiago de Compostela, as there are as many paths as there are origins of pilgrims. In addition to the official routes we already know, a lesser-known route takes us to the origin of the Jacobean history, the Barbanza Way, which, navigating and bordering the Arousa estuary, where it is believed the boat with the remains of the Apostle arrived, recovers this episode as well as a Camino de Santiago with documentary and historical justification.

Milestone of the Way

Association of Friends of the Barbanza and Sar "The Origin" Camino de Santiago

Since its inception in 2017, the Association of Friends of the Barbanza and Sar "The Origin" Camino de Santiago has been promoting a new Jacobean route, the Way to Santiago "The Origin", which runs through the Barbanza peninsula. The main objective is to identify, recover, and improve the ancient Camino de Santiago through the region of O Barbanza, traversing the municipalities of Ribeira, Pobra do Caraminal, Boiro, Rianxo, Dodro, and Padrón, where it would join the Portuguese Way to reach Santiago de Compostela.

The president of this association, José Manuel Mariño Nin, who has been closely related to Jacobean culture for 21 years while attending at the shelter of Monte do Gozo and at the Pilgrim Attention Office of Santiago de Compostela, recalls that the Codex Calixtinusmentions the arrival of the remains of the Apostle at Iria Flavia by sea.

"Geographically, we are at the origin of the Way and there is no other entry by sea that does not pass through our coast", he asserts confidently. He is referring, of course, to the Traslatio of the Apostle's remains thanks to the will of two of his disciples, Theodore and Athanasius. In addition to this maritime and fluvial route, which many pilgrims undertake on the Spiritual Variant of the Portuguese Way, he adds that "there is a path with centuries of history that we have taken care to document. We have a study confirming where it passed and the intention is to recover it as faithfully as possible, installing the signage proper to the Way with rigor and respecting the Jacobean tradition".

There is evidence, such as the existence of several hospitals, heraldic elements, images of Santiago, and more than 200 milestones related to the Jacobean tradition such as churches, convents, cruceiros, etc., which demonstrate the existence of an ancient medieval Way to Santiago parallel to the maritime route of the Traslatio.

The coast of Barbanza

Thus, parallel to the navigation through the Ría de Arousa, their association, together with the Barbanza Arousa Commonwealth of Municipalities, has promoted and developed a route that already has the approval of the Church, which will even allow obtaining the Compostela.

With boots on and backpack full

Thus, we prepare to traverse this new path. It consists of 114 kilometers divided into six stages from the Corrubedo Lighthouse (Ribeira) to Padrón, where the remaining kilometers to Santiago de Compostela should be added, this last stage being common to all versions of the Portuguese Way. The stages would be:

• Corrubedo Lighthouse – A Guía (16 km)
• A Guía – A Pobra do Caraminal (24 km)
• A Pobra do Caraminal – Cespón (32 km)
• Cespón – Quintáns (26 km)
• Quintáns – Padrón (16 km)
• Padrón – Santiago de Compostela (24 km)

Crossing rural areas and towns such as Pobra do Caraminal, Boiro, and Rianxo, you will always have services at your disposal. Furthermore, the route is already perfectly marked, and there are information points located in Corrubedo (Ribeira), Carreira (Ribeira), A Pobra do Caraminal, Cespón (Boiro), Quintáns (Rianxo), and A Bacariza (Rianxo). On the Wikiloc account of the Barbanza Arousa consortium, you can check all the tracks, but we, having already done it, guarantee you that it is a very special path, as you always have the sea to your right. Let us take a closer look at the stages.

Stage 1: Lighthouse of Corrubedo – A Guía

We begin this path and this stage of 16 kilometers at the foot of the Lighthouse of Corrubedo in a wild environment with rough seas crashing violently against the rocks. We will pass through the fishing village of Corrubedo and then by the Lagoa de Vixán, whose views will captivate us. We will finish the stage at the chapel of A Guía, closely linked to maritime traditions.

The Lighthouse of Corrubedo

Stage 2: A Guía – A Pobra do Caraminal

The second stage, rooted in the Jacobean tradition, takes us through 24 kilometers to enjoy a journey scented with salt and sea breeze. We will enjoy the unique landscapes of the Arousa estuary by the sea, where the route is captivating and light, without significant ascents. In A Pobra do Caraminal, we can rest and immerse ourselves in its picturesque streets.

Stage 3: A Pobra do Caraminal – Cespón

We continue our adventure in this third stage, the longest with its 32 kilometers, leaving behind the welcoming Pobra do Caraminal to immerse ourselves in the maritime life of Escarabote or Cabo de Cruz; we recommend stopping to admire the fishermen's work of its people. Further ahead, in the castros of Neixón, we will taste the landscape of the sea dotted with the bateas of the Ría de Arousa. We conclude in Cespón where the oldest church in Boiro witnesses the passage of the centuries.

Cascade of Pobra Caraminal

Stage 4: Cespón – Quintáns

It is 26 kilometers of stage where we can visit the Hermitage of San Ramón de Bealo, patron of parturients. We will traverse fragrant green paths, whose nature will offer us beautiful panoramas. In Rianxo, the cradle of Galician culture, we will learn about the legends of Castelo da Lúa or the mystery of the cursed village of Abuín. Following the coastline, we will encounter the crucero de las Tres Cruces, the only maritime Via Crucis in the world. Thus, we arrive at Quintáns, where we can rest.

Stage 5: Quintáns – Padrón

In this stage of 16 kilometers, we will enjoy a peaceful and restful day with little mileage, on the eve of our triumphant arrival in Santiago de Compostela. Much cultural heritage awaits us, always parallel to the Ulla River to reach the Sar River, which announces our arrival in Padrón.

The passage of the Sar River through Padrón

Stage 6: Padrón – Santiago de Compostela

Last day, and a great day between two unique Jacobean enclaves, such as Padrón and Santiago de Compostela. You will be accompanied by the pilgrims of the Portuguese Way, in a stage of 24 kilometers where the excitement of reaching the Plaza del Obradoiro will be your best fuel.

"We have potential and we have justification. The Way we are projecting is as legitimate or more so than any other that has been officially recognized, for the boat with Santiago passed by our coasts." This is how Mariño defends this path, who is also already thinking of opening a Pilgrim Reception Center in A Pobra do Caraminal, and assures that there are already individuals intending to open shelters.

More kilometers ahead

Indeed, dear pilgrim friend. If you have already completed some Jacobean route, now you have the opportunity to enjoy another very interesting one, full of landscape, sea, gastronomy, culture, and history: the Way to Santiago "The Origin" offers you all the best of the Barbanza region and Jacobean culture.

Shall we walk the Origin?