Palas de Rei

Palas de Rei is a modern market town that serves as an important overnight stop for the final stretch to Santiago. It has a good selection of albergues and restaurants, and the welcome here is warm and experienced.

The name means "Palace of the King" and refers to a Visigothic palace that once stood here, though no trace remains. The church of San Tirso has a Romanesque apse that is the oldest remaining structure in town. The surrounding area is typical of the beautiful, enclosed Galician countryside: eucalyptus and oak forests, stone walls, green meadows, and the sound of running water.

From Palas de Rei the path is manageable on foot to Arzúa in two stages with an overnight in Melide, famous for its pulpo (octopus). Santiago is now within reach and the atmosphere among pilgrims here is a particular mixture of anticipation and a quiet reluctance to have the journey end.