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Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Exploring Galicia: Finisterre on Spain's Death Coast

The Spaniards thought this was the end of the world. And who could blame them?



Cape Finisterre, or Cabo Fisterra in Galician, meaning the end of the earth, was once thought to be the westernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula. We now know that Portugal's Cabo da Roca, 16.5 kilometers west, is farther west, making it the westernmost point in continental Europe. 

But the Spaniards weren't far off the mark. 

It does look like the end of the world. 

And until the discovery of the Americas, it was. 


According to legend, this area was known for Celtic pagan rituals involving Ara Solis, an altar used for sun worship, until St. James, the Christian Apostle, worked to rid the site of pagan activity. He even built a church nearby, but this chapel no longer exists.

The lighthouse, or faro, that sits atop Monte Facho, on Finisterre, was built in 1853, and it is one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Galicia, mainly due to the popularity of the Camino de Santiago over time.


The lighthouse sits 238 meters (almost 781 ft.) above sea level and has a torch that reaches 30 nautical miles. The octagonal tower is made of stone. A siren was added in 1888 because of the constant winter (and sometimes summer) fog.


Finisterre, in the province of La Coruña, is located on Spain's Costa de Morte, or Death Coast, so named because of the treacherous coast line that has taken more than its share of ships to their watery graves on the bottom of the Atlantic. 

At the pilgrim monument heading up to the lighthouse

Today, it is a popular final stop for pilgrims who have walked the Camino de Santiago. 

A Camino de Santiago marker, with the sign of St. James...a scallop shell.

Following the completion of their Camino and arrival in Santiago de Compostela, pilgrims walk (or ride) the final 85-90 kilometers (about 50 miles) to Finisterre. Many pilgrims burn their old clothes or their boots, signifying a fresh start following their spiritual journey.
The bronzed boot monument of the Pilgrim

Ashes of journeys passed

At the cruceiro near the water's edge, pilgrims place stones, photos, notes, clothing patches, and other mementos from their journey. It may be left in memory of someone special, in penance for a past transgression, in honor of the experience of the Camino or lessons learned along the way. 


The cruceiro takes on an altar-like persona....sacred ground that speaks to the power of the Way. 







The scallop shell...the symbol of Saint James and the Camino de Santiago



There are many rocky perches for contemplation, dolphin watching, or watching the sun set.


Other pilgrims continue on to Muxia, another 30 kilometers (about 18 miles), as seen in the film, The Way



Finisterre is a crowd pleaser and well worth the trip.

Walk around and enjoy the views. When you consider your own journey, think about what you might leave at the end of the world. 









34 comments:

  1. O wow, so lovely!

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  2. What a great place! I've watched The Way on the flight from Spain last year, loved it, and vowed to get back into hiking, but I don't think I'll ever do the Camino, so I'm glad for your post. Thanks for sharing all those beautiful photos too! Again, what a great place!

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  3. How interesting! I've never watched the film, nor have I heard of this particular place before.

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  4. I have not seen this film, but I love your pictures and the meaning behind the 'camino', I would love to visit someday!


    Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly

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  5. That looks like an amazing place. I've never heard of it. Thank you for sharing. Maybe I should check out that movie too.


    The second photo and the one from the side with the fog rolling in are truly amazing.

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  6. Okay, so let's make a deal...
    I will cook for you, and you will just take me with you to all these, beautiful, exotic places! :)

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  7. What a very interesting place to visit. Such lovely views and the story of the Camino is so interesting. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. An interesting journey with many fascinating components. Beautiful photos too, thanks for sharing the Galicia experience!

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  9. Thank you, Cathy. Galicia has so much to offer. It is still fairly untouched by the tourist scene, for better or for worse. It is a European gem, for sure, and a highlight along the Camino. Thank you for stopping by!

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  10. Sounds like a plan, Mandee. :-) When we're there full time, we'll have plenty of space.

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  11. The Way is well worth watching. The Spanish landscape is like its own character. Galicia has so much to offer. It is still fairly untouched by the tourist scene, for better or for worse. It is a European gem, for sure. Thanks for stopping by, Tracy.

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  12. The Way is well worth watching. The Spanish landscape is like its own character. Galicia has so much to offer. It is still fairly untouched by the tourist scene, for better or for worse. It is a European gem, for sure. Thanks for stopping by, Susan!

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  13. Thank you! Galicia has so much to offer, aside from the Camino. It is still fairly untouched by the tourist scene, for better or for worse. It is a European gem, for sure.

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  14. The fog rolling up to the lighthouse is beautiful!

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  15. Amazing pictures! Thanks for sharing!

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  16. The Way is fabulous. And I think it's still on Netflix or Amazon Prime. The Spanish landscape is like another character. A beautiful film, for sure.


    Thank you...the sunsets are spectacular. And that night with the fog was magic. We even saw a horse in the distance that someone had ridden in. It was grazing up on the hill, so it's hard to tell that it was up by the lighthouse, but it was magical, indeed.

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  17. Thank you, Peggy. Galicia has so much to offer. It is still fairly untouched by the tourist scene, for better or for worse. It is a European gem, for sure.

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  18. Amazing photography Kelly. I found the burning of boots and clothes symbolizing a new start really interesting. I would like to do that theoretically speaking. I also found leaving mementos cross interesting because I know in a lot of places there are similar things like that. Your travel post always give me wanderlust.

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  19. That's really cool, I feel like these are the places that aren't talked about enough. And your sunset photos are incredible!

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  20. Even they say it looks like the end of the world, it is still so beautiful and I wouldn't mind! Thanks for sharing about this place, I would love to visit this place one day. And I would definitely stay until the sun sets, it looks like the perfect place to be at when it does.

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  21. Kelly, I loved reading this post! It's packed with historical context (making the little historian in me very excited) and great info. on el camino!

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  22. Thank you, Michelle! It is one of my favorite places, for sure. Thank you for stopping by!

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  23. It was a magical night. The whole place casts an air of mystic energy. Maybe it's the residual energy of the ancient Celts or the recurring energy of pilgrims on the Camino...either way. it's magic, and well worth the visit. :-) Have a great weekend!

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  24. Wow, what beautiful pictures. Fascinating history as well!

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  25. Thank you, Heather. I'm so happy you stopped by! Have a great weekend!

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  26. Thank you, Ashley. Finisterre is one of my favorite places. Spain is rich with history. It's a living museum. So much fun!

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  27. It really is beautiful. Rachel. Galicia has so much to offer, and it is still really untouched by the tourist scene, for better or for worse. It is a European gem, for sure.

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  28. It really is beautiful. Yvonne. Galicia has so much to offer. It is still fairly untouched by the tourist scene, for better or for worse. It is a European gem, for sure. Thank you so much for stopping by.

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  29. Thank you, Jazmine! New starters are always interesting, regardless of how they generate. Travelers are similar around the world. The destination may be different, but the art of the journey is often the same. and most often, the journey is as much internal as external.

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  30. I always saw Finisterre as a place on the shipping forecast. Now I've seen the pictures it has become a place I need to visit.

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  31. Very fascinating! I love the views of the water :)

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  32. I do too, Lauren. It's one of my favorite places, for sure.

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  33. It is so beautiful. Be aware...it can get very crowded, especially at sunset time. Enjoy! Thanks for stopping by, Steve!

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