STARTING POINT: GRANJA DE MORERUELA
END POINT: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
DISTANCE: 420 km
The Way of Sanabria is a detour from the “Vía de la Plata” (the “Silver Route”) which starts in the locality of Granja de Moreruela in the province of Zamora and goes directly to Santiago instead of going northward to Astorga to join the French Way. The name comes from the fact that in the first part of the route it crosses the region of Sanabria from east to west.
In the locality of A Gudiña this route diverges into two separate tracks towards Santiago. One goes through Laza – the shortest and most advisable if on foot; the other runs through Verín and is most recommended for cyclists.
History
This route is also called the Southern Galician Way or the Mozarabic Way, and should not be confused with the routes that share this name but that connect Andalusian capitals with the beginning of the Silver Way.
Like the Silver Way, this was a route consisting of Roman causeways, later used by Galician reapers to reach Castilian lands, as it connects Galicia with the centre of the Peninsula.
INFORMATION FOR PILGRIMS
The Way of Sanabria is well signposted. In the province of Zamora we find yellow arrows, tablets and milestones, and in Orense it is the sculptures of Nicanor Carballo that guide pilgrims.
Hostels are distributed at suitable intervals along the route.