Astorga

Astorga is a very common place for pilgrims to begin walking because it is right after the meseta or the flatter plateau region of Spain. No shade (pun intended) to the meseta because it is a lovely stage to walk, but Astorga to Santiago is roughly 10 days give or take and if people have limited time, it’s a great starting point. Astorga was a Roman civilization so there are some excellent remains and foundations to visit. In addition, the Astorga Cathedral has an incredible history of the area as well as an extensive library. One addition that was popular among the pilgrims was a virtual reality exhibit inside the cathedral museum.

Next to the cathedral is a house that was originally meant as the bishop’s residence. This impressive house was designed by Gaudi and it’s one of his earlier projects. Now it’s a museum with an impressive collection of items from the original Roman settlers to statues and relics from the Camino de Santiago.

If you have time, you must visit the chocolate museum. You can learn about the history of the factory and buy chocolate there.