Xunqueira de Ambía
Via de la Plata
Camino Sanabrés
The Colegiata de Santa Maria la Real is the reason to stop here, and it's a beauty. Founded in 955 as a monastery, it was handed over to Augustinian canons in the 12th century and achieved collegiate status in 1164. The church is transitional Romanesque with later additions, and it's considered one of the finest examples of rural Romanesque architecture in Galicia. Inside, an 18th-century organ survives -- one of the few in the region.
The name Xunqueira comes from juncal, meaning a marshy place where rushes grow. Legend has it that the Virgin appeared in the marshes here in the 4th century, which prompted the construction of a chapel and eventually the monastery. Whatever the truth, the monks who lived here provided shelter for pilgrims on this route for centuries.
The town has a Xunta albergue (one of the first buildings on your right as you enter on the back road), bars, a pharmacy, and basic provisions. It's a good stopping point with genuine historical weight.
The Colegiata de Santa Maria la Real was founded as a monastery in 955. In the 12th century it was donated to the Augustinian canons, and in 1164 it was elevated to a collegiate church. The Romanesque church, with its later additions, has served continuously as a place of worship for over a thousand years. The monastery provided shelter for pilgrims on the road to Santiago, and the current building retains elements from its 12th-century construction alongside 18th-century additions including a notable organ. The collegiate came under the Archbishopric of Valladolid.
After passing the church the camino turns right to follow the road towards Salgueiros, but quickly leaves the road to follow a side road and track down to the Rio Arnoia (0.9 km). It then climbs up to A Pousa along another track which turns off from the road shortly after crossing the river.
Accommodation in Xunqueira de Ambía.
| Albergue de peregrinos de Xunqueira de Ambía 10€ 24 |
|
| Albergue Casa Tomás 18€ 9 |
|
| Casa Rural Do Souto |
Comments