The Way of Saint James of Torres Vedras

"The plant is almost bare,
agria via, y no calzada,
bien roto, y mal descosido,
without shoes I arrived in Braga"
Diego de Torres Villarroel (1745)

In memory of the Salamantine writer Diego de Torres Villarroel, this route retraces his journey between Salamanca and Santiago de Compostela.
In 1737, Diego de Torres Villarroel left Salamanca for Santiago, accompanied by his friend Agustín Herrera and two other servants. The entire journey was made over difficult, poorly paved roads and was, according to him, the most difficult experience of his life: "It was the most difficult thing I've ever done to go on foot to visit the temple of the apostle Santiago."
At around 600 km long, the Way of Torres Vedras is considered one of the most beautiful and, at the same time, most demanding of the routes to Santiago that cross Portugal. Along the way, the pilgrim crosses four World Heritage sites - including the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary - and six cathedrals, including Braga Cathedral, the oldest in the country.
This is a challenging route, where the harshness of the road combines with the grandeur of the natural landscapes, giving it a unique beauty and a marked historical presence.

Parishes along the Way of St. James and Its Monuments
1 - Nogueira (part of the Union of parishes of Nogueira, Fraião and Lamaçães)
Church of Santa Maria Madalena, Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Chapel of Santa Marta do Leão

2 - Fraião (part of the Union of parishes of Nogueira, Fraião and Lamaçães)
Ancestral Church, Fountain of Iron Water

3 - São José de São Lázaro (part of the union of the parishes of São José de São Lázaro and São João do Souto)
Palácio do Raio, Fonte do Ídolo, Basílica dos Congregados

4 - Cividade (Part of the Sé, Cividade and Maximinos parish union)
Thermal Baths of Bracara Augusta and Roman Theater, Tower of St. James or Medieval Tower, Cruise with Fountain in Largo de Santiago

5 - Sé (Part of the Sé, Cividade and Maximinos parish union)
Sé Primacial, Igreja da Misericórdia, Arco da Porta Nova, Domus da Escola Velha da Sé

6 - Maximinos (Part of the Sé, Cividade and Maximinos parish union)
Parish Church of Maximinos, Chapel of S. Miguel-o-Anjo, Andrade Corvo Street Fountain

7 - Real (Part of the Union of parishes of Real, Dume and Semelhe)
Chapel of São Frutuoso de Montélios, Teaching farm

8 - Dume (Part of the Union of parishes of Real, Dume and Semelhe)
Dume Museum Center, Archaeological Ruins of the Roman Village Bathhouse, Municipal Stadium

9 - Frossos (Part of the Merelim São Pedro and Frossos parish union)
Parish Church, Chapel of São Caetano, Chapel of Santo António

10 - São Pedro Merelim (Part of the Merelim São Pedro and Frossos parish union)
Parish Church, Chapel of S. Brás

11 - Palm tree
Dona Chica Palace, Bico Bridge, Roman road, Senhor do Rio Chapel

12 - São Paio de Merelim (Part of the Union of parishes of Merelim São Paio, Panóias and Parada de Tibães)
Parish Church, River Beach, Chapel of São Bento

Stages of the Torres Vedras Way

1- Salamanca - Robliza de Cojos
2- Robliza de Cojos - San Muñoz
3- San Muñoz - Alba de Yeltes
4- Alba de Yeltes - Ciudad Rodrigo
5- Ciudad Rodrigo - Gallegos de Argañán
6- Gallegos de Argañán - Almeida
7- Almeida - Pinhel
8- Pinhel - Trancoso
10- Trancoso - Sernancelhe
11- Sernancelhe - Moimenta da Beira
12- Moimenta da Beira - Lamego
13- Lamego - Mesão Frio
14- Mesão Frio - Amarante
15- Amarante - Felgueiras
16- Felgueiras - Guimarães
17- Guimarães - Braga
18- Braga - Ponte de Lima
19- Ponte de Lima - Rubiães (Paredes de Coura)
20- Rubiães (Paredes de Coura) - Valença/Tui
21- Tui - Redondela
22- Redondela - Pontevedra
23- Pontevedra - Caldas de Reis
24- Caldas de Reis - Padrón
25- Padrón - Santiago de Compostela

The Torres Way runs for approximately 15 km through the municipality of Braga, passing through the parishes mentioned at the beginning.
The Torres Way from Braga follows the central Portuguese route.
Get to know the Camino de Torres trail in the municipality of Braga Here!