by Alexandra Pose Mora
The time has come to embark on the adventure of the Way to Santiago. We have decided to travel the beautiful landscapes of the Primitive Way in Galicia, which is considered the oldest of all of them, since it was the route that King Alfonso the Second followed during the ninth century to visit the tomb of the Apostle. We leave A Fonsagrada, a small town in the province of Lugo. Fonsagrada has many prehistoric remains such as “forts” and “dolmens”. However, the history of the place revolves around the Primitive Way to Santiago. It is believed that its name originates from the existence of a fountain on the Way, called “Fontem Sagrada” in Latin, from which the place name Fonsagrada would originate. The location of the town on the Santiago Way facilitated the construction of pilgrim hospitals such as the “Old Hospital of Santiago of Montouto”, whose remains can be seen today as you go through the Way, along with a beautiful dolmen in the surroundings of the place.
We leave Montouto behind and arrive at the village of Paradavella where we find numerous unique buildings, the so-called “pallozas”, which reflect the evolution of mountain buildings in this area. After observing these peculiar buildings, we go down to the village of A Degolada, and then go up to the parish of A Fontaneira, which has a beautiful church. Finally, in the last stretch of this stage we will arrive at our destination, O Cádavo, capital of the council of Baleira, having previously passed through the Campo da Matanza, which according to the legend, a bloody battle took place between Alfonso II and the Muslims.
