We leave Arzúa along the cobbled Calle del Carmen, through a more rural environment, we descend to the Fountain of the French, cross the River Vello and arrive at Barrosas, we continue down to the Brandeso River, until we reach Preguntoño, village of the parish of Burres. Tradition says that in this place the walkers always asked which was the way to go to Santiago. Here deviate to discover a new section of the Way of Saint James and we will be surprised by this new itinerary avoiding crossing the N-547.
As soon as we begin the stretch, we are 300 meters away from the Chapel of Preguntoño where both the walker and the pilgrim ask if you want to start a stretch with the whole essence of the Way of Saint James
The construction of this chapel was ordered by an emigrant returned from Cuba in the 18th century. On the facade appears the cross with the symbolism of the passion of the missions. The altarpiece is in Rococo style with the images of San Roque, the Pilgrim Virgin, San Paio, San Pancracio, San Antonio de Padua.
Tradition says that mothers ask the saint when children will begin to walk. The place of the chapel, Preguntoño, bears his name for being at a crossroads where all the pilgrims of the Way were lost.
We travel less than two kilometers and find a path to the left where the chapel of Santa Marta da Riba (San Benito Sanctuary) is. It originated in 1740 and belonged to an old "pazo" nowadays disappeared, from the Aguiar and Montenegro families.
Devotion in this chapel was originally granted to San Benito, but in 1928 it changed to Santa Marta. The story of the exchange of saints is curious. Legend has it that the chapel, initially dedicated to Saint Benedict, went on to venerate Santa Marta in 1928. In this year the sculpture of this Saint is transferred to the chapel, from a miraculous fountain in the place.
The basilical chapel is the only part left of the old pazo da Riba. It is located in an oak grove with a wooden cross in its center. The faithful seek in Santa Marta the healing of ear problems.
In this village of Riba, in a beautiful landscape, between oaks and leafy pastures, Queixería Barral stands. In this factory, cheeses of the Protected Designations of Origin Tetilla and Arzúa-Ulloa are made by hand, starting from the local production of milk, from livestock farms that we will find later in the way. It can be visited by arranging for groups, with tasting included.
500 meters later we pass through the village of O Rial to take a narrow path between walls and crossing pastures and oak groves, a road full of heritage value.
We travel for two kilometers along a little traffic road, passing through the village of Pousada and reaching again a narrow lane that served as a passage to the nearby farms. Here we can see the house of the friars and then we find the hermitage of San Xoán de Navas located in an isolated place, whose origin is linked to phenomena of a miraculous nature.
This legend that alludes to the foundation of the sanctuary was collected by the professor of Humanities and priest Eduardo-Aurelio Cacheda Vigide, who compiled this and other legends. According to this author, the sanctuary is built in 1804, which is ordered to be built by a pastoralist from Bustelo, in the village of Navás. The reason for erecting it is due to the fact that he had lost his flock of sheep during a severe storm and promised that, where he would find the sheep he would erect a chapel under the invocation of Saint Xoan Baptist. Luck wanted him to find the sheep very close to the village of Sixto, and it was there where he ordered this sanctuary to be built.
At the entrance of the atrium there is a stone fountain, crowned with a Latin cross and with two water pipes that pour into a sink. Abundant water flows from them and, according to tradition, it is usual to wash the face before the dawn of the day of San Xoán to avoid skin rashes.
For five kilometers we travel through meadows and forests, passing through Carral and Loureiros, being able to make contact with rural places, between houses and livestock farms such as Livestock Camba.
We enter the council of Touro to reach the parish of Beseño, specifically Oca de Abaixo, and later the parish of San Fix, the place of Laña de Abaixo. Here we can find rural accommodations at the foot of the road such as: A Pena de Auga Santas (Oca de Abaixo), Casa Míguez (Laña de Abaixo) that together with Pazo de Andeade (Casa Grande) and Casa Assumpa (O Pumar) at the beginning of the stretech, are the four quality and charming rural houses where you can stay, and enjoy the nature of its surroundings on the historic road.
A Pena de Auga Santas : http://casa-assumpta.com/
With a respectful restoration of the buildings and the landscape recovery of the farm. Currently, it offers 7 double rooms with bathroom.
After passing the village of Laña with its fountain and its river of the same name, we travel five kilometers along tracks leaving the Barion-style church of San Fix de Quión on the left bank and later, we can regain strength in a typical traditional establishment which is part of the Rural Commerce network of Galicia, Casa Varela.
We continue our route moving towards one of the most charming traditional roads of the stretch and that will take us to the mythical "Carballeira do 20", with its recreational area, where a fair is held on the 20th of each month and where you can taste the octopus.
We climb the so-called 20 day road for five kilometers, leaving the Picón viewpoint on our left and ending in the church of Santa Eulalia de Arca, with its rectory and a beautiful granary.
Going up to Pedrouzo, after passing between cork oaks, we reach the national road where we can face the last official stage of the WAY OF SAINT JAMES
