36th Stage
Laza – Xunqueira de Ambia (33,4 km)
From Laza take the OU-110 road to Soutelo Verde and cross the river Támega, which will be on the right. When you reach Soutelo you are surprised by a fountain with a large stone cross, the houses with wooden closures, the cobs hanging from the balconies and, in the hermitage that is located at the pass, an inscription: “Passenger you are walking help the souls that are punishing. Year 1813”.
From here, cyclists are recommended to take the OU-110 regional road to Vilar de Barrio.
Continue to Tamicelas. Before arriving there is a fountain and recreation area: it is advisable to fill the bottle for the long ascent to Mount A Requeixada which, through a kind of firebreak, ascends from 500 to 800 metres in little more than an hour. Take the OU-110 road and continue along it until you reach
ALBERGUERÍA
Santa María de Alberguería was an important milestone on this route, as there was a hospital for pilgrims and an inn. It is the parish of Laza. In a farm there is a granite roll similar to that of Azofra. The church dates from the 17th century and conserves a carving of Santiago. There is also a good fountain.
- Rincón del Peregrino Hostel: 988 984 904, 628 832 269 (Luis). 24 places
You go out on a dirt road. About 2 km away, on Mount Talarino, you can see a large wooden cross. You pass through an area called O Veredo and after 1.5 kilometres you follow the local road to
VILAR DE BARRIO
It is the head of the town council and occupies the headwaters of the river Arnoia from the Sierra de San Mamede to Baños de Molgas. It is part of the region of A Limia. The scallop is in its shield.
- Town Hall. Plaza de Toural, 10. Tel: 988 119 001
- Pilgrim hostel, Xunta de Galicia: Av.da San Fiz. Tel: 988 449 001/ 628 35 39 14. 64 places
- A Casa do Adelino. Camino de Vilar, 37 tel.: 609 635 762
Continue towards Santa María de Bóveda, where you will find the house of the Marqués de Bóveda de Limia, knight of the Order of Santiago. The path continues towards Vilar de Gomareite and Bobadela a Pinta (Santa María). There are remains that testify that the third Roman military road from Braga to Astorga passed through these lands, between Bobadela and Busteliño. The path is a straight line without trees and then change to an enchanted forest. It passes through Padroso and Cima de Vila, famous for its cabbages; then, through Quintela a
SANTA MARÍA LA REAL DE XUNQUEIRA DE AMBIA
The history of Xunqueira revolves around the monastery settled here. An ancient tradition states that, back in the fourth century, in a small lagoon called Juncaria due to the abundance of reeds there, an image of Nuestra Señora appeared, and a small hermitage was erected in her honour. In 955 it is constituted as a monastic house founded by Gonzalo Froila and his wife Ilduara, related to San Rosendo. In 1150, Alfonso VII makes a full donation of this monastery to the Order of Saint Augustine. Xunqueira de Ambia is part of the Region of Allariz-Maceda.
The church, dedicated to Santa María la Real, has been declared a National Monument. It is in Compostela Romanesque style, with the three apses corresponding to the oldest part of the building. The cloister, the walnut choir and the organ date from the 16th century.
- Town Hall: Plaza San Rosendo, 1. Tel: 988 436 069
- Pilgrim hostel, Xunta de Galicia: Tel.: 627 767 219. Schedule 12,30 a 22,00. 24 places
- Rural House “Casa de Miraval”: Tels: 988 436 078 / 619 822 746
- Casa Souto: Plaza de San Roque. Tel: 669 851 544
