Melide

Melide is the octopus capital of the Camino. The town has several pulperias (octopus restaurants) that have been serving pilgrims for decades. Pulpo a feira is boiled octopus, sliced and served on a wooden plate with paprika, coarse salt, and olive oil. The most famous pulperia is Ezequiel, which has been open since 1960 and has a queue out the door most afternoons. Do not skip this. Even if you think you do not like octopus, try it here. Many pilgrims call it the best meal of their entire Camin

Melide is where the Camino Primitivo (the Original Way from Oviedo) joins the Camino Frances for the final 55 km to Santiago. If you have been walking the Frances, you will notice new faces joining the trail here, pilgrims who have been walking through the mountains of Asturias on a completely different route. Share a table, swap stories, and appreciate that multiple paths lead to the same destination.

A 14th-century Gothic church in the old town with a simple but atmospheric interior. The churchyard contains a carved stone crucifix (cruceiro) that is one of the oldest in Galicia, dating from the 14th century. These stone crosses are a distinctive feature of the Galician landscape and you will see many more between here and Santiago.

Melide's old town is compact and pleasant. The main street has several bars, a small market, and the kind of lived-in character that larger Camino towns sometimes lack. After the octopus, walk off your meal through the narrow streets and across the medieval bridge on the way out of town. The bridge over the Rio Furelos is beautifully preserved and marks the continuation of the trail towards Arzua.

A traditional Galician pastry specific to Melide. These small, sweet, anise-flavoured biscuits have been baked here for centuries. Pick some up from one of the bakeries on the main street as a trail snack. They travel well and pair nicely with a mid-morning coffee at the next village.