{"id":1118,"date":"2026-07-29T21:17:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T01:17:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?p=1118"},"modified":"2026-07-29T21:17:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T01:17:07","slug":"may-07-2026-arzua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?p=1118","title":{"rendered":"May 07, 2026: Arz\u00faa"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Arz\u00faa is a winsome town in Galicia, Spain, and a welcome stop along the Camino de Santiago. With only twenty-two miles remaining before Santiago de Compostela, the town has long offered pilgrims a place to rest, recover, and gather their strength for the final stretch of the journey.<\/p>\n

For Jeff Johnson and me, it was an outstanding rest stop.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Our \u201chovel\u201d for the night was Casa Brandariz, a historic country house and restaurant dating to 1523. Carefully restored, it retains its ancient stone walls, rustic character, and much of its 16th-century charm. After so many miles on the Camino, it felt less like a hovel and more like a palace.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Arz\u00faa\u2019s history is intertwined with the countless pilgrims who have passed through it over the centuries. The 14th-century Chapel of La Magdalena, once part of an Augustinian monastery, served as a pilgrims\u2019 hospital during the 15th century. Its pointed arch and simple belfry remain reminders of the town\u2019s enduring role in caring for travelers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a>At the entrance to Arz\u00faa stands the medieval Ribadiso Bridge, alongside a former pilgrims\u2019 hospital dating from the 13th or 14th century. The old hospital now serves as a public pilgrim hostel, continuing\u2014after all these centuries\u2014to offer shelter to those making their way toward Santiago.<\/p>\n

The area\u2019s history reaches back even further. About two kilometers from the town center are the remains of an ancient fortified circular settlement, evidence of the region\u2019s pre-medieval Celtic roots. Long before pilgrims followed yellow arrows across Galicia, people were already making their homes among these green hills.<\/p>\n

Arz\u00faa gave us a chance to pause before the final push\u2014a place to rest weary feet, enjoy the comforts of Casa Brandariz, and reflect on the generations of travelers who had stopped here before us.<\/p>\n

Santiago was only twenty-two miles away.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Arz\u00faa is a winsome town in Galicia, Spain, and a welcome stop along the Camino de Santiago. With only twenty-two miles remaining before Santiago de Compostela, the town has long offered pilgrims a place to rest, recover, and gather their strength for the final stretch of the journey. For Jeff Johnson and me, it was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":193664754,"featured_media":1120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1393,1379,1380],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camino-2026","category-personal","category-writing"],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgfYCB-i2","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":918,"url":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?p=918","url_meta":{"origin":1118,"position":0},"title":"May 2, 2026: Villafranca del Bierzo","author":"Old Griffy","date":"May 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Villafranca del Bierzo, a key stop on the Camino de Santiago. Calle del Agua (Water Street): A historically important, narrow medieval street lined with palaces and noble houses. Convent of the Annunciation (16th Century): Located on the Calle del Agua. The Colegiata de Santa Mar\u00eda de Cluniaco (or Santa Mar\u00eda\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Camino 2026"","block_context":{"text":"Camino 2026","link":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?cat=1393"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2228-1-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2228-1-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2228-1-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2228-1-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":861,"url":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?p=861","url_meta":{"origin":1118,"position":1},"title":"April 30, 2026: Rabanal del Camino","author":"Old Griffy","date":"May 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The trail is getting harder and because I suffer from a variety of heart problems, I\u2019m getting slower and more in need of rest. But it has been amazing. My prior Camino was mainly about getting from place to place, but my intent this time is to seek out the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Camino 2026"","block_context":{"text":"Camino 2026","link":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?cat=1393"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2190-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2190-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2190-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2190-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1205,"url":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?p=1205","url_meta":{"origin":1118,"position":2},"title":"May 10, 2026: Santiago (The Portico of Glory)","author":"Old Griffy","date":"June 15, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Portico of Glory (P\u00f3rtico da Gloria) is the great sculpted entrance inside the western end of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, and for many pilgrims it is the artistic and spiritual climax of the Camino de Santiago. Created by the master sculptor and architect Master Mateo between about\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Camino 2026"","block_context":{"text":"Camino 2026","link":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?cat=1393"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_0078.png?fit=1136%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_0078.png?fit=1136%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_0078.png?fit=1136%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_0078.png?fit=1136%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_0078.png?fit=1136%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":921,"url":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?p=921","url_meta":{"origin":1118,"position":3},"title":"May 5, 2026: Sarria","author":"Old Griffy","date":"May 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Sarria is about 100 kilometers from the end of the line, Santiago de Compostela. I walked about 6,000 steps today with almost no problems. I got winded and dizzy a couple of times but was able to find all the medieval sites in the city. Sarria is also the first\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Camino 2026"","block_context":{"text":"Camino 2026","link":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?cat=1393"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2364-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2364-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2364-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2364-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":761,"url":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?p=761","url_meta":{"origin":1118,"position":4},"title":"April 23, 2026: El Burgo Ranero, Spain","author":"Old Griffy","date":"April 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"El Burgo Ranero, a quiet Camino de Santiago village in Le\u00f3n, Spain, features humble, traditional mud construction (adobe) that reflects its history. While primarily a modern stop for pilgrims, its medieval roots are highlighted by the church of San Pedro and typical meseta-style architecture. Crucero de El Burgo Ranero: Though\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Camino 2026"","block_context":{"text":"Camino 2026","link":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?cat=1393"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_2029-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_2029-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_2029-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_2029-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1106,"url":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?p=1106","url_meta":{"origin":1118,"position":5},"title":"May 6, 2026: Portomarin: The Town That Rose Above the Water","author":"Old Griffy","date":"July 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Coming down the final embankment toward the Mi\u00f1o River, it is a great relief to see the beautiful bridge leading into Portomar\u00edn. After the long descent, the town feels like a welcome resting place\u2014but it is not quite what it first appears to be. Unlike many of the aging towns\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Camino 2026"","block_context":{"text":"Camino 2026","link":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/?cat=1393"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_7385-3-300x225.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oldgriffy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2477.jpeg?fit=5712%2C4284&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/193664754"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1118"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1118\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1380,"href":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1118\/revisions\/1380"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldgriffy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}