Walk part of the legendary Camino de Santiago on this unforgettable piligrimage day. You'll hike the Liebana Way from picturesque Potes to the Monastery of Santo Toribio.
Pilgrimage Day: Santo Toribio de Liebana Way
Our pilgrimage day will begin leaving Santander in the direction of the picturesque town of Potes. During the two hour drive, we'll admire the beautiful Cantabrian landscapes including the sheer, almost-vertical walls of the spectacular La Hermida Gorge.
Arriving in Potes, you'll be given directions for your pilgrimage walk to the Santo Toribio de Liébana Monastery, which dates back to the 6th century and is said to house a relic of the True Cross. You'll then have free time to explore the historic streets of Potes and start your hike up to the monastery.
The pilgrimage route from Potes covers a route of just under 2 miles (3 kilometres) with a steep slope in some sections. It takes around 45 minutes to reach the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, and at midday we'll attend the pilgrim's mass held there. You'll also be blessed with the relic of the True Cross, which you'll even have the opportunity to touch!
After the mass, we'll visit the chapel and viewpoint of St Michael, which offer unparalleled views of the Picos de Europa mountains. We'll then return to Potes by minibus and renew our energy indulging in a traditional Lebaniego stew in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, you'll have around two hours of free time visit Potes at your own pace. Stroll through its Medieval streets, visit monuments like the Casa del Oso Pardo, a centre where you can learn about the brown bear, and the Torre del Infantado, a 14th century fortified tower, or discover the typical products in the town's shops.
Having made the most of our time in this charming village, we'll head to San Sebastian de Garabandal. In this small village, located in the Peña Sagra mountain range, a number of apparitions of the Virgin Mary are said to have taken place in the 1960s. We'll take the opportunity to visit the village and to go up to Los Pinos where the visions happened.
At the end of the day, we'll make the journey back to Santander, arriving back around 7:30 pm.
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