Sarrià

Sarria is the most popular starting point for pilgrims walking the last 100 km to Santiago, the minimum distance required to earn the Compostela certificate. The town fills with new pilgrims every day, many starting their Camino here. If you have been walking for weeks, you will notice the change immediately. The trail gets busier, the albergues fuller, and the energy shifts. Some long-distance pilgrims find this jarring. Others enjoy the fresh enthusiasm.

Sarria's old town climbs steeply uphill from the river. The narrow streets are lined with old stone houses and lead to the ruins of a medieval castle at the top. Walk up to the castle for views over the valley. The Iglesia de San Salvador nearby has a Romanesque doorway. The Convento de la Magdalena, with its Gothic cloister, is also worth a visit. Most pilgrims pass through quickly, but the old town repays a slower exploration.

If Sarria is your starting point, pick up your pilgrim credential from the Pilgrim Office near the main street. You will need at least two stamps per day from here to Santiago to qualify for the Compostela. Stamps are available at albergues, bars, churches, and many shops along the route. Your first stamp from Sarria marks the beginning of your final 100 km.

Sarria has excellent Galician food at very reasonable prices. Try pulpo a feira (octopus with paprika, olive oil, and salt, served on a wooden plate), caldo gallego, and empanada. The bars along the main street compete for pilgrim trade and the quality is consistently good. Wash it down with a glass of Albarino white wine from the Rias Baixas coast.

From here, you have five stages to Santiago. The walking is mostly gentle, through green Galician countryside with frequent small villages. The hardest part of the Camino is behind you. Tonight, enjoy a good dinner, a glass of wine, and the knowledge that you will reach Santiago. The anticipation from here to the finish is one of the great pleasures of the walk.