Visiting Madrid before Camino Ingles

[LakbayCJG]

I will be visiting the Royal Church of St James in Madrid before taking the train to Ferrol for my Camino Ingles. Is it possible to get my credencial and my first sello from the Royal Church in Madrid although I won't officially start my Camino until the next day in Ferrol ?

 

[lovelyshell]

There is a Camino church in Madrid you should definitely check out. They give stamps and the priest even gave me a blessing. I went to Madrid after my Camino.

 

[peregrino_tom]

LakbayCJG
or as it's called in Spain: Real Iglesia Parroquial de Santiago y San Juan Bautista https://www.santiagoysanjuan.org/

I went in there when the doors opened at 10am for my Credencial. I can't remember whether the woman actually asked me if I was starting in Madrid - but she gave me the church's stamp. Worse case scenario is you get the Credencial but not the stamp. Either way you should really get a stamp in Ferrol anyway, as that is the start point of your foot journey - and the Pilgrim's Office will be looking for 2 stamps a day...
Years ago when I walked the Ingles the place to get Credencial and stamp was the tourist kiosk on the waterfront. But others may suggest something else...

 

[LakbayCJG]

That's the church I'm referring to. Will be arriving in Madrid Sunday afternoon from my Saturday flight from the US and that's where I'll hear Sunday Mass. I'm taking the morning train to Ferrol on Monday.

 

[DTCamino]

They show they also have hours 6-8 pm as well. That’s the time I’m going there next month before I start walking the next day.

 

[henrythedog]

I will be visiting the Royal Church of St James in Madrid before taking the train to Ferrol for my Camino Ingles. Is it possible to get my credencial and my first sello from the Royal Church in Madrid although I won't officially start my Camino until the next day in Ferrol ?Y

Yes; they’ll happily issue a credencial and stamp it. It will be assumed you’re starting from Madrid; but that doesn’t matter. Unless you’ve all the time in the world, I wouldn’t try to explain. Lovely people.

They’ll give you a selection of leaflets on accommodation - for the Camino de Madrid - you could save those for next time!

Do ensure you get a stamp in Ferrol before starting out. The source of your credencial isn’t a matter for the pilgrim office in Santiago, so long as it’s ‘approved’ which the Madrid one is.