The Camino de Finisterre (or Finisterre Way) is considered to be an extension of the Camino walk, from Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre or Muxía. It is the only Jacobean route that starts in Santiago de Compostela.
The Romans believed that Finisterre was the End of the World, and the easternmost point of Europe. Both the Romans and Celts used to contemplate the sunset from the Cape Finisterre, as a sort of ritual. Nowadays, all those pilgrims coming from all over the world follow the same rituals, and contemplate the sundown, same as our ancestors.
The land of Finisterre is full of legends related to the Camino de Santiago. One of them is written on the Códice Calixtino (the first Camino de Santiago guidebook). The disciples of the Apostle had decided to travel to Dugium (an old town that was part of Finisterre, that nowadays is under the sea) to request a document to the Roman governor to be able to bury the remains of the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela. They were sent to prison but, according to the tradition, they managed to escape.
But there is even more than Finisterre. We can continue the walk to Muxía, where we can visit the Sanctuary of Nosa Señora da Barca (right in front of the sea). This is an iconic religious construction, that was built to Christianize the area, where the previous settlers used to develop their pagan rituals. According to the legend, the Apostle visited the virgin to encourage her to carry out the Christianization of the region.
Close to the Sanctuary, there is this 9 meters stone called “Pedra de Abalar” (this could be translated as the “shaking stone”). According to the tradition, the stone starts the shake when someone that is completely free of sins stands on it; or, when a dangerous storm is coming.
There are many pilgrims who choose to walk the Finisterre Way or the Muxía Way, to get to know all the legends of this region, and enjoy the incredible sunset. Also, to taste the delicious seafood of this area, known as the Costa da Morte (Coast of Death). There are only four walking days from Santiago to Finisterre (through really nice spots, like Negreira and Cee); and two more for those who want to continue to Muxía.
There is a Galician saying that states that “there are as many Camino de Santiago routes as pilgrims walking them”. Just keep reading to discover your own way and all the services we can offer to take the most of this experience.
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