Hello to all!
Today I will show one step of the Camino de Santiago, from Larrasoana to Pamplona.
I did only some stops of the Camino de Santiago (Cammino di Santiago in Italian) in 2010, the normal spanish route, between Larrasoana (near Roncesvalles, Pyrenees) to Santiago de Compostela. This famous way is very popular for pilgrims, and it is known in English as the Way of St James, leading to the tomb of Saint James the Great (one of the apostles) in the main cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia, northwestern Spain).
It is common along the way to find shoes hang on ropes, maybe they mean that someone has left the way (In Finisterre, at the end of the camino, they are instead a proof to have finished the route; leaving personal objects there means to restart a new interior path lighter).
(pictures from Wikipedia)
Here we are very close to Roncesvalles, at Ermita de San Salvador de Ibañeta (Hermitage of San Salvador de Ibañeta) located in Puerto de Ibañeta. It is currently a stop on the route of the French Way. In middle age "the place being the confluence of springs and frequented by mists, it is said that the hermit rang the bell to guide the pilgrims from dusk to midnight" (Pagola Lorente, Javier 2008).
Pilgrims, welcome in Navarra!
In a while we reached Roncesvalles. This town is famous for the death of Orlando in 778, during the battle of Roncevaux Pass, when Charlemagne's army was destroyed by Basque tribes. This battle is narrated in the famous poem 'Chanson de Roland' (The Song of Roland).
Here the church of Santa María de Orreaga/Roncesvalles, the favorite resting place for Catholic pilgrims along the French Way path:
And here the Chapel of Sancti Spiritus, or "Charlemagne's Silo" (XII century), where Olando (Rolando) thrust his sword after the defeat:
Here typical landscape in Pyrenees:
Here Trinidad de Arre, a shelter/basilica adjoining the bridge over the river Ulzama, at the exit from Villava. Near it, the ancient building Batán de Villava.
Finally, we reached Pamplona!
The city is famous worldwide for the running of the bulls during the San Fermín festival. The red spot on the walls, entering the old city, remindes to this dangerous event:
Here Pamplona town hall façade in Plaza Ayuntamiento:
And here the central nave of huge Pamplona Cathedral:
Analogic pictures taken with Nikon FE2 camera, august 2010.
Continue here: @barnabo73/camino-de-santiago-villafria-greater