A rural road on the outskirts of the village of O Cebreiro. In September, I was one of the roughly 400,000 people who walk a group of hiking routes known as the Camino de Santiago every year.
For centuries, people have walked from a variety of starting points to the city Santiago de Compostela, home of an impressive cathedral. Their routes carry them over dirt trails, paved roads, and cobblestone paths.
Today, significant amounts of both religious and secular pilgrims (or peregrinos) walk to Santiago. A multitude of hostels, restaurants, and stores have sprung up to cater to them. So have a number of shrines and churches, like the one that owns the candles shown here.
One of many things to appreciate about the camino is the architecture, which often features stone as a primary material, and can date back as far as the 9th century. This wall belongs to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria, which makes up much of the village of O Cebreiro.
Alongside the sanctuary, the charming mountaintop village is home to a few restaurants located in old stone buildings. This eatery specialized in traditional foods from the region, like pulpo (octopus) and empanadas (savory pies).
This wooden sign was located on the road into the village, bearing the name of a meson, or restaurant and hotel. While the sign appears old, and had partially fallen over, the meson in question was still open and bustling with pilgrims.
O Cebreiro is perched at a lofty elevation of 4,250 feet, marking the highest point I reached on my eight-day journey. The rustic beauty of the hilly countryside below was a nice counterpoint to the more developed cities and towns that I had previously walked through.
This thatch-roofed building is called a palloza and was built to withstand the elements of the mountains. It is a restored example of the traditional housing of the pre-Roman inhabitants of northwestern Spain.
Ty Hoagland is a student at the University of Denver and an ISA Featured Photo Blogger. He is studying with ISA in Seville, Spain.