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Caminos Teresianos, De la Cuna al Sepulcro (From the Cradle to the Grave)

Elle Bieling

Elle Bieling, PilgrimageTraveler
Time of past OR future Camino
Too many to count!
Hello fellow peregrinos. I have finally completed my website pages, regarding my travels and experiences on the Caminos Teresianos, also known as the Ruta Teresiana. It is either a 107 km or 117 km route, depending on whether you choose the Northern Route, or the Southern Route. We chose the shorter, the Southern.

While this is not a Camino de Santiago, it can easily be connected to the Vía de la Plata, starting in Salamanca, on what is now known as the Camino Natural Vía de la Plata (From Alba de Tormes, the end of the Ruta Teresiana, to Salamanca, a walk that is 23 km, formerly known as the Vía Verde).

As for the Camino Teresiano, for those interesting in walking in the footsteps of St. Teresa of Ávila and her contemporary, St. John of the Cross, you will not be disappointed! This route celebrates the life and death of these medieval mystics, who forever changed the Discalced (Barefoot) Carmelite order and forever changed the landscape of Spain, in this high central plateau, also known as the Meseta! Yet their writings and wisdom are pertinent for our time, and forever in the mystic spiritual tradition.

The Ruta Teresiana starts in Ávila, the place of Santa Teresa's birth and ends in Alba de Tormes, where she died.

I would not recommend this Camino for first-time pilgrims, as it has very little infrastructure, even fewer pilgrims, almost no one speaks English, there is almost no wifi, not even in albergues, and at times no cellular connection! So data plans don't even always work! A pilgrim must plan ahead, and even call ahead to ensure that services are available and someone is there to check you into an albergue and to obtain meals, if you are not eating from your pack.

The good news is that the route is incredibly well-marked, the locals are amazingly helpful, and astonished if you have come all the way from the USA! We were treated incredibly well, and I have stories of those who went out of their way to help us.

If you have an adventurous heart, whether or not you speak any Spanish, if you have done a least one pilgrimage and you are sitting on the fence trying to make a decision about this route, I would say to you, "Just go for it!' A big smile and lots of motions go a long, long way! This is a solitary walk, however, so come with a fellow pilgrim, or know that if you want to experience a Camino from a fully local perspective, this is your Camino!

You can read all about our adventures, by going to my website, on the Caminos Teresianos!
 
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Hello Elle
I love the information on the webpage, looks VERY interesting.

But I think I'll finish my first CF later this year before I'm ready to do a Camino that's a bit more stretching.

Pleased to see that your webpage is always up to date and current too 👍
 
Hello Elle
I love the information on the webpage, looks VERY interesting.

But I think I'll finish my first CF later this year before I'm ready to do a Camino that's a bit more stretching.

Pleased to see that your webpage is always up to date and current too 👍
Yes, the Teresiano will stretch you! And it will be waiting for you as well!
 
Elle has produced an excellent guide on this camino. In researching it for a possible upcoming camino of mine I've also used the following websites for information (previously mentioned in other others on this forum, I believe): http://delacunaalsepulcro.es/el-peregrino/ and http://www.caminosteresianos.com/caminos/avila---alba-de-tormes. Both are in Spanish, but fairly easy to understand, especially with the help of Google Translate. The first also has a downloadable Pilgrim Guide with a list of accommodations and other resources for the route.

I hope this helps others interested in walking this route....
 
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Ali.....you are a wealth of information.!
....and hopefully this will guide me through when I start walking in 15 days time! I 😎
I'm not sure if i will stay last night in Alba de Tormes or bus through to Salamanca as i want to join Camino Torres at Aldea del Obispo or Almeida and buses run infrequently to those locations, so i have to leave Salamanca the next day to catch the weekly timetables. 😱
 
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Ali.....you are a wealth of information.!
....and hopefully this will guide me through when I start walking in 15 days time! I 😎
I'm not sure if i will stay last night in Alba de Tormes or bus through to Salamanca as i want to join Camino Torres at Aldea del Obispo or Almeida and buses run infrequently to those locations, so i have to leave Salamanca the next day to catch the weekly timetables. 😱

Thank-you Rob, my works are most definitely in English and most convenient for most of us!

I would definitely recommend a night in Alba de Tormes, if you wish to see the sights. There are many and after walking a long day, we had to rush around to see them all. It is the death place of Santa Teresa, and her tomb and relics are in the Iglesia de la Anunciación, in the main square. Also the museums are treasure troves celebrating her life and that of her fellow mystic, San Juan de la Cruz. The Castillo-Palacio de los Duques de Alba, towers above the town and the views from there at sunset are glorious indeed. Please see my photos, on my final day for more. Even if you are not religious, the art and history in this town is amazing.

You may have time constraints, but we really enjoyed the walk from Alba de Tormes to Salamanca on the Camino Natural Via de la Plata. It is an easy stroll, on a old railroad bed, and we were fascinated by the history that occurred here in the Battle of Salamanca (1812), and the Arapiles Hill Monument. Plus the walk into Salamanca from the south, and the river views of the cathedral and old Roman bridge are wonderful!

Regardless, @RodlaRob, whatever you choose to do, have a wonderful time and Ultreia!
Elle
 
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Thanks Elle...you have reminded me of the reasons I'm doing the Camino Teresiano in the first place....and yes the last days walk will be a long one! ....so
I have to allow for an overnight in Alba de Tormes! I have re read your notes/ photos.
Somehow my plan has to be rejigged.
 
Ok. have rejigged. Now spending 20th March in Avila (after all it is World Heritage Listed!) with the €15 visitor access card. (Which i think is excessive for a Pilgrim .....but for a cause if they improve this Camino).
Staying final 4th night in Alba de Tormes (to hopefully receive my Certificate)🙏. Then walking next day to Salamanca.
 
Ok. have rejigged. Now spending 20th March in Avila (after all it is World Heritage Listed!) with the €15 visitor access card. (Which i think is excessive for a Pilgrim .....but for a cause if they improve this Camino).
Staying final 4th night in Alba de Tormes (to hopefully receive my Certificate)🙏. Then walking next day to Salamanca.
Sounds like a plan! The visitors card is worth it! Much to see for a small price.
 
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Oh well...it's not going to happen. 😪 Was hoping to do 3 weeks walking after a 7 week home exchange in Brittany but now Flying back to Australia instead in 3 days ..... but will return one day for Camino Teresiano!
 
Yes, on the back burner for me too. Had thought, if my airline gives me credit for the flight, of going in November but I think the brown landscape of the cut fields would depress me. I'll save the Teresiano for another Spring camino....
 
Thanks Elle for your assistance - your info was really useful and it was through you that we first learned about the Teresianos. We walked most of it in May of this year. It was getting rather warm even then but we really enjoyed it. Below is a short 10 minute video of the first five days.

 
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Thanks Elle for your assistance - your info was really useful and it was through you that we first learned about the Teresianos. We walked most of it in May of this year. It was getting rather warm even then but we really enjoyed it. Below is a short 10 minute video.
How lovely to relive this wonderful Camino through your video! Thank you so much for posting this and I am so glad you had an enjoyable time! If you have more to share, I'd love to see it!
 
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