EL LECHERO
Friends no Strangers
Before starting my camino next year I'd like to learn about historical sites, etc that are along the way so that I won't miss them. I'm walking the Primitivo and would like any advice on how to go about this.
This would be the best course of action for someone who has never been to the forum, but I think a better idea for forum members is to start by looking through the many posts on architecture, history and landmarks on the Primitivo, all conveniently tagged and there for the searching. I do a lot of my own research when I am planning a camino, but I always start on the forum. Then I use google and the other sources you recommend to fill in the gaps.Your best bet is probably to make a list of all the places you expect to pass through, then methodically google each one, then follow up any interesting threads or ideas you find. Plus, read a good general history of Spain to give you some context.
Actually there aren't too many tagged posts on those topics, specifically for the Primitivo, so it would be great to get some more. For art, architecture, history and landmarks on all Caminos, click on the tags at the top of this page (under the thread name).start by looking through the many posts on architecture, history and landmarks on the Primitivo, all conveniently tagged and there for the searching
I was very saddened to learn that the site is closed for renovations, which began in March 2021 and will continue till who knows when. The museum is open.The ongoing archeological excavation and museum of the Castro Chao Samartin a few km after Grandas de Salime is wonderful site to visit.
MUSEO CASTRO CHAO SAMARTÍN – Página Oficial del Museo Castro Chao Samartín. Grandas de Salime. Asturias
Absolutely. Oviedo (bit of a foodie centre) and Lugo are definitely the stars. I wish I had followed my own advice before walking the Primitivo, in fact every camino we've done. It is hard to understand what you are looking at when you don't have a context to put it in, and now that I have the time to thoroughly inform myself, I have begun to realise what I missed . Why is S. Julián de los Prados so outstanding? Why is there so much pre-Romanesque and Romanesque architecture in Asturias and Galicia? Why are Galicians so obsessed with Celtic art? Why is every cathedral in Spain full of Baroque sculpture? Why are the walls of Lugo still standing when every other city in Spain seems to have lost its city walls? And why are there so many Renaissance and Baroque monasteries? I think the forum is absolutely brilliant if you are looking for specific information, but my (strictly personal) view is that a top down overview, in particular a working knowledge of Spanish history, helps you to make sense of what you are looking at.I agree with @dick bird (and to some extent with the rest). I saw a lot of good info on the forum before I walked but pretty much everyone used the same guidebook and/or read the same posts. By googling I learned a lot more about the area. I read a book designed just for tourists in the area of the Norte and Primitivo, and one for Spain in general. Those gave me a lot of places to look for that are usually listed as day trips for tourists in the major cities. Because I wanted to stay in monasteries when possible I read a book on that. I wanted to avoid fiestas as much as possible so I looked up festival dates—for those wanting to see festivals the same method applies just the reverse goal. I planned a rest day in Lugo and had a long list of things to see. Ditto Oviedo. Not because I needed rest but because you can’t just walk past those cities. If you must just rush through one make it Lugo. You really want a day to see Oviedo. I walked longer than average stages because I could, but that’s a way to make up time spent in Oviedo and Lugo if time is tight. do the hospitales route.
The Primitivo was my favorite—I hope it’s everything you could want.
Buen Camino
edit: if possible with covid and your walking plans, stay at Bodenaya.
Ohhh that's a shame!I was very saddened to learn that the site is closed for renovations, which began in March 2021 and will continue till who knows when. The museum is open.
I think this will be my fourth time by without getting to visit. I FINALLY made a plan to stay near the castro and then learned that it is closed!
@Theatregal, do you think some of the site will be visible from afar? I take it the museum is worth a visit?