Primitive Way from Lugo

Stages

• day 1

  Arrival at Lugo

  We cross O Cádavo following the same direction as on arrival and leaving the village square on the left, we go down an asphalted track to Pradela and start the gentle ascent along dirt tracks until we reach the Alto da Vacariza, last ascent until reaching Lugo, already in the council of Castroverde.
  We enter Castroverde by the LU-530 road. Shortly after we leave the road to take a street on the left hand side until we come out next to the town hall and the church. Castroverde is the last place before Lugo where there are bars and shops, not to mention the 4 vending machines for drinks and food that we will find on the roadside.
  Without crossing the road we find the fork between the official road to Vilalle and the old road to Vilabade, signposted as "Complementary Road". The latter is 500 meters longer, but it will be worth it to be able to visit the church of Santa María de Vilabade, known as the "Castroverde Cathedral". We enter Castroverde on the LU-530 road, which we leave shortly afterwards to take a street on the left that leads to the town hall and the church.
  

  This is the last village before Lugo where there are bars and shops, not counting the vending machines that we will find along the way.

  We leave Castroverde through a beautiful forest, pass by a fountain and cross the road and a ring road. We always ride in the same direction, alternating asphalt and dirt in a placid rural environment.
  From Gondar we go up the same road until we reach a quarry and take a path to the right, which leads back to the road. We walk along the shoulder for 1 km, which takes forever. We leave the LU-530 road, crossing it with caution and following the road to Manzoi for 250 metres, until we turn left onto a pleasant path.
  We arrive at As Casas da Viña and continue along a dirt road, crossing a bridge over the A-6 motorway and, shortly afterwards, another bridge.
  
  We go around the village of O Carqueixo and reach Castelo, from where we descend to the neighbourhood of A Chanca, the entrance to the city of Lugo. We cross the bridge over the river Rato, from where we go up to the town centre, passing under the railway tracks and going up the stairs of Fontiñas Street and Carril das Flores, until we reach the Roman wall.
  We enter the old town through the Puerta de San Pedro until we reach the Plaza Mayor and the Cathedral of Santa Maria.
  

  To consider

  The official route from O Cádavo has been modified and does not go through Vilabade, but through Vilalle, saving 500 metres but avoiding the church of Santa María de Vilabade, although in any case, the old route is still signposted as a "complementary route" at the milestones until reaching Lugo.
  

  Of interest

  • Church of Santa María de Vilavade - Castroverde
  • Roman Wall - Lugo
  • Santa María Cathedral - Lugo
  • Historic centre - Lugo
  • House of Mosaics - Lugo
  • Domus del Mitreo - Lugo
  • Rosalía de Castro Park - Lugo
  • Roman Bridge - Lugo

  Typical dishes

  Although it is a complex statement, Lugo is one of the cities with the best food in Galicia. All drinks are accompanied by a cold pincho and a hot tapa, plus in any bar or restaurant you can taste typical dishes at very cheap prices.
  

  • Pork and veal steaks
  • Octopus á feira
  • Lacón with turnip tops
  • Galician broth
  • Zorza
  • Raxo
  • Orella, snout and cachola
  • Empanada
  • After dinner with typical liqueurs: coffee liqueur, herbs and cream of orujo.
  • Cake of Santiago, roscón, filloas
  • Cheese with quince
• day 2

  Stage 1. Lugo - Ferreira (26.5 km)

  We say goodbye to Lugo in front of the Cathedral and leave the walled city through the gate of Santiago, to go down Santiago street and after 400 metres we turn right onto Calzada da Ponte, which takes us in the direction of Ferreira.
  We continue along the Ronda del Carmen and pass under the N-VI road that takes us to the Roman bridge over the river Miño, called Ponte Vella. We cross the bridge and turn off to the right along Vella da Ponte and Fermín Rivera streets, enjoying the views of the river. We arrive at the fountain of the chapel of San Lázaro, where an old leper hospital was located.
  

  At the height of the church of San Lázaro we take the detour to the left, through some streets going uphill, moving away from the river and definitively saying goodbye to the city.

  A little further on, we cross a tunnel on the N-540, go through a housing estate and cross another road, this time the LU-232. We take the local LU-2901 road, which we follow until we reach Seoane, a town with no services.
  We continue along the same local road LU-2901, passing through different villages until we reach San Vicente do Burgo. Here you will find a bar 100 metres from the Camino and you can take advantage of the stop to visit its 18th century baroque church.
  The LU-P-2901 is still a faithful companion. Although luckily we will find a couple of detours to the right, on tracks and paths, which break the monotony of the asphalt. A couple of kilometres before arriving we pass a crossroads that leads to the Crecente Inn, 100 metres from the Camino.
  We continue along the road until we reach the church of San Romao da Retorta, in the municipality of Guntín, and we continue along a rural road dotted with hamlets and parishes without services, with quite a lot of asphalt. We finally arrive at Ferreira, where we will find a small Roman bridge with a single arch and some toilets.
  

  To be taken into account:

  If you want to sleep in a public hostel, we have to shorten the stage by 8 km from Ferreiros to end up in San Román da Retorta, or lengthen it by 5.6 km to the village of As Seixas and halfway through the stage, 2.5 km off the Way, you will find one of the most unique monuments in Lugo, the Church of Santa Eulalia de Bóveda (3rd - 4th century), declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. It can be visited from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 15:00.
  There is the possibility of linking the Primitive Way with the North Way (Lugo - Friol - Sobrado dos Monxes), lengthening a little more our arrival to Santiago de Compostela.
  

  Places of interest

  • Church of San Lázaro da Ponte
  • Church of San Vicente do Burgo
  • Church of Santa Eulalia de Bóveda (2.5 km detour from the Camino)
  • Church of San Romao da Retorta

  Typical dishes:

  • Octopus á feira
  • Galician broth
  • Stew
  • Mougan peppers
  • Beef steak
  • Raxo
  • Zorza
  • Lacón with turnip tops
  • Artisan bread
• day 3

  Stage 2. Ferreira - Melide (20 km)

  We cross the Roman bridge of Ferreira and go up a path until we reach the local road LU-231 for 2 km in the direction of Melide. We turn off to the left towards Leboreira to, shortly after, take the same road again.
  We leave the road on the right a little further on, and through a small path we join another local road. After passing Merlán, we leave it to the left to reach the village of As Seixas, where you will find a hostel. We pass the hamlet and go up a dirt track to Casacamiño. We go over a high point through a stone track that offers beautiful views.
  

  We go down to Hospital das Seixas, where we will find a fountain and a rest area.

  We continue along an asphalted track, climbing a small hill in the Sierra del Careón, which divides the provinces of Lugo and A Coruña. We go down the opposite slope of the mountain range through an asphalt and gravel track until we take the detour to the left that goes down to Vilouriz.
  We cross a path with meadows until we reach another village, Vilamor, where there is a fountain behind the church. From here we continue along the road, through an urbanized area. We cross the river Furelos until we reach the crossroads of Melide, which we follow to the left until we reach the centre of the village. Here our Primitive Way joins the multitudinous French Way.
  

  To consider

  From the moment you start in Ferreira and throughout the stage you will find small bar-shops, although they do not usually have fixed opening hours. Melide is the capital par excellence of octopus á feira, which you cannot fail to try in two of its famous pulperías: Pulpería Ezequiel and A Garnacha.
  

  Places of interest

  • San Roque Chapel - Melide
  • Melide Crossing
  • Church of Sancti Spiritus - Melide
  • Capilla del Carmen - Melide
  • Museum of the Earth of Melide

  Typical dishes

  • Octopus á feira
  • Potato omelette
  • Arzúa Cheese
  • Padrón Peppers
  • Beef steak
  • Raxo
  • Zorza
  • Lacón with turnip tops
  • After dinner: Almendrados, melindres and ricos (typical of Melide), orujo de hierbas, coffee liqueur and cream of orujo.
• day 4

  Stage 3. Melide - Arzúa (14 km)

  Today you will say goodbye to Melide with a short stage ahead, although with some moderate elevation. However, we assure you that the effort will be worth it as you find yourself surrounded by extraordinary Atlantic forests. And if the weather is on your side, you can't forget your swimsuit. Upon arriving at Ribadiso de Abaixo, you will have the opportunity to swim in the river and enjoy the beautiful landscape and the magical environment that accompanies this small village. Once in Arzúa, you will have all the services to stock up and rest. Ah! And you can't leave without trying the typical cheese that bears the name: Denomination of Origin Arzúa-Ulloa; accompanied by other typical products from the area.
• day 5

  Stage 4. Arzúa - O Pedrouzo (20 km)

  This stage is a pleasant walk on flat and comfortable terrain, with plenty of bars and restaurants that will encourage you to take it easy. You will alternate between villages and pine and eucalyptus forests. Small towns like Salceda mark the halfway point of the stage, a perfect stop to recharge your batteries before the last kilometres of the stage.
• day 6

  Stage 5. O Pedrouzo - Santiago de Compostela (19 km)

  At last the last stage of your journey is here. As we said before, the sooner you start walking today the better, because the sooner you will get to Santiago de Compostela. Once you arrive at Monte do Gozo, you will discover that pleasant sensation when you first see the towers of the cathedral. A perfect panoramic view before savouring your last kilometres and making the triumphal entrance to the Plaza del Obradoiro.
• day 7

  End of the Camino

  After arriving... End of the Camino