My arrival in Muxía, a fishing port on the Atlantic Ocean in northwestern Spain, signified the end of my 47-day journey across and up Spain. It was bittersweet to have made it to this point. I was elated to have completed such an amazing journey, but sad to have it come to an end. However, walking on the coast for three days, and seeing four lighthouses along the Camino Finisterre to Muxía, was a fabulous way to end my journey. The 20 miles of walking between Finisterre and Muxía combined my admiration for lighthouses, allowed me to breathe the fresh air of the ocean, to enjoy the coastal beaches and views, and to conclude my journey after my 482-mile walk along the Camino de Santiago.
Translated as the “end of the world,” Finisterre (Fisterra in Spanish) itself is a 56-mile journey from the cathedral in Santiago to this fishing port on the Atlantic Ocean. Some take three days to walk there, but I chose to take a bus. Located at the 0.00 kilometer marker, my first of four lighthouses of the Camino Finisterre, the Faro de Fisterra (Faro is Spanish for lighthouse), contains a museum and an historical exhibition. It is also the location of a Peace Pole, “May Peace Prevail On Earth.” From Finisterre, I began my walk northward.
Half way between Finisterre and Muxía I stayed in the little town of Lires. It was from here that I hired my first taxi to take me to my second lighthouse, Faro de Touriñán, located on the most westerly point in Spain. My taxi driver was very kind and allowed me to wander around as long as I wanted.
Faro de la Punta da Barca in Muxía, my third lighthouse, is located next to the Santuario de Virxe de Barca, which is a pilgrimage site associated with the Virgin Mary and St. James. From this viewpoint, one can also see my fourth lighthouse, Faro de Cabo Villano, in the distance.
I needed to hire a taxi to take me to Faro de Cabo Villano, which actually turned out to be the same taxi driver. This lighthouse sits on a rock that is about 325 feet high, and there is an exhibition room which contains a Fresnel lens, and several artistic paintings of the lighthouse. A closed tunnel with stairs leads from the building to the tower, which unfortunately I was not allowed to walk through.
I actually took my time, three days in all, to walk the 20 miles from Finisterre to Muxía, so that I could enjoy the beautiful scenery, and have a chance to visit the extra lighthouses. I really loved walking along the coast. Some make the journey in a day and can see the lighthouses in Finisterre and Muxía. But it is my guess that very few take a taxi to also see Faro de Touriñán and Faro de Cabo Villano.
Although, I did discover that there actually is a “Camino of Lighthouses” where you can walk approximately 125 miles and visit 7 lighthouses around the northern and western edges of Spain. Perhaps a future travel!?
Sweet Travels!
For more blogs about my 502-mile, 47-day journey across northern Spain and up the Atlantic Coast, please visit my Camino de Santiago category.
Want to stay up-to-date on all my departures? Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and/or RSS/email.