Finding the start of the Camino Madrid

[cindyjo]

Hi all, I’m sitting in the Rodilla Cafe on Plaza Castilla after looking for an arrow or some sign to show the start of the Camino Madrid. My sister and I hope to begin walking tomorrow morning, but we’re unsure where to start. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[JustOneGuy]

I understand you have to go to Real Iglesia Parroquial de Santiago y San Juan Bautista

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[Doogman]

I walked it in 2019, so it may be different now, but back then the church referenced above was the unofficial starting point for the Camino. However, there were no yellow arrows until you got to Plaza de Castilla.

So I made my own way from the church to the Plaza. Heading north up the street, both before and after Cafe Rodilla, there were yelpow arrows. Look on street lights, street lamps, kerbs, buildings, etc.

But head north from Cafe Rodilla and you should find some. Good luck! It’s a great Camino.

 

[MikeJS]

A note from my Camino Madrid blog from Sept 23 - went to Iglesia Santiago y San Juan Bautista and a waited until 1800 for it to open. Turns out there is a Camino marker and map for the Camino in the square outside the church now.

 

[Laurie Sanantone]

And if you want to pick up a Camino de Madrid credential at the Iglesia, be sure to have your passport with you so they can fill in your passport number on the credential. I didn’t have mine with me, but when I promised to write the number in as soon as I returned to my hotel, I was allowed to receive my credential.

 

[trecile]

You can download the Gronze Map app, but you do need an internet connection for it to work.

Gronze Maps | Camino de Santiago | Gronze.com

Gronze Maps es la App de Gronze.com para usar en ruta (on the road). Muestra los tracks y alojamientos en el mapa y la ubicación del usuario en tiempo real. Contiene toda la información actualizada sobre los servicios y alojamientos en conexión con Gronze.com. Funciona en cualquier dispositivo...

www.gronze.com

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Hi all, I’m sitting in the Rodilla Cafe on Plaza Castilla after looking for an arrow or some sign to show the start of the Camino Madrid. My sister and I hope to begin walking tomorrow morning, but we’re unsure where to start. Any help would be appreciated.

The Camino Madrid start here

 

[MesaWalker]

I am a bit confused. We will walk the Camino de Madrid in the Spring. After looking at Google Maps, the Plaza de Santiago and the photo provided are right by the church and make perfect sense as the start of the Camino de Madrid.

However, I´m confused by the references to Plaza Castilla. Per Googe Maps, it´s something like 12 km from the church. Is there more than one Plaza Castilla in Madrid? Or is it just an alternative location in Madrid where you can pick up the Camino de Madrid?

As a side note, I love the photo with the double way marking for Uclés and Santiago. We´re going to start our camino walking from Uclés to Madrid, so it´s very cool that that camino is marked all the way to the start of the Camino de Madrid.

 

[Doogman]

To reiterate what I said in my initial post, at the time that I walked it (5 years ago), the church was generally considered the starting point, but there were no yellow arrows to guide you from that point. The yellow arrows started at the Plaza de Castilla. Maybe somebody that has walked it more recently can comment on where they picked up the yellow arrows. Much could have changed in 5 years.

I had booked a hotel right at the Plaza de Castilla, so upon arrival in Madrid, I dropped my pack at the hotel and took the metro to central Madrid. I found the church and then walked back to the hotel, making my own way through the city streets. My recollection is that it was about 7-8 kilometres from the church to the Plaza. The next day I left the hotel and in about 30 metres I was on the Camino.

Maybe the OP can let us know how they got along.

 

[Blister Bill]

I am a bit confused. We will walk the Camino de Madrid in the Spring. After looking at Google Maps, the Plaza de Santiago and the photo provided are right by the church and make perfect sense as the start of the Camino de Madrid.

However, I´m confused by the references to Plaza Castilla. Per Googe Maps, it´s something like 12 km from the church. Is there more than one Plaza Castilla in Madrid? Or is it just an alternative location in Madrid where you can pick up the Camino de Madrid?

As a side note, I love the photo with the double way marking for Uclés and Santiago. We´re going to start our camino walking from Uclés to Madrid, so it´s very cool that that camino is marked all the way to the start of the Camino de Madrid.

May see you on the way. Planning on walking from the monastery of Santiago to Santiago via Oviedo in the Spring

 

[MesaWalker]

May see you on the way. Planning on walking from the monastery of Santiago to Santiago via Oviedo in the Spring

That would be great. We plan to start shortly after Easter. Same itinerary - Uclés, Madrid, Salvador, Primitivo.

 

[peregrina2000]

I think the two most obvious places to start your Camino de Madrid are in the historic center at the Church of Santiago and San Juan Bautista, or you can start from Plaza Castilla (the arrows outside the Rodilla store may have faded, but just keep walking up the Castellana and you will find the arrows).

If you start at the church of Santiago near Sol, I would highly recommend that you not take the route up Bravo Murillo, which is the route I have seen recommended on various sites. It is an uninteresting, shadeless, car-filled walk. I have suggested several alternatives on this thread, and I think you will be much happier with your exit from Madrid if you take one of the options that take you through old Madrid, and then up north on shady boulevards. See my suggestions here.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I am a bit confused. We will walk the Camino de Madrid in the Spring. After looking at Google Maps, the Plaza de Santiago and the photo provided are right by the church and make perfect sense as the start of the Camino de Madrid.

However, I´m confused by the references to Plaza Castilla. Per Googe Maps, it´s something like 12 km from the church. Is there more than one Plaza Castilla in Madrid? Or is it just an alternative location in Madrid where you can pick up the Camino de Madrid?

As a side note, I love the photo with the double way marking for Uclés and Santiago. We´re going to start our camino walking from Uclés to Madrid, so it´s very cool that that camino is marked all the way to the start of the Camino de Madrid.

The purple line is the Camino Madrid. The thick blue line is the Plaza de Santiago in Madrid.

I think that @peregrina2000 s suggestions are excellent. I tend to take the "official" route as a suggestion. If there is a more interesting path that goes in the general direction then I will often take that path.

In my case interesting includes nice cafes, shade when it is hot, nice views, an easier path if I am tired and desired accommodation.

 

[MesaWalker]

Great suggestions! I will definitely follow @peregrina2000´s suggestions. And I apologize to @Doogman for not fully understanding his first post the first time! Thank you all. Can´t wait to get there!

 

[Blister Bill]

That would be great. We plan to start shortly after Easter. Same itinerary - Uclés, Madrid, Salvador, Primitivo.

Keep in touch we will probably be the same time

 

[cindyjo]

Thanks everyone for your replies. We went to the Cathedral to stamp our credentials and proceeded to walk to the Plaza Castilla. We finally found the arrows to begin our walk about two blocks north of the Rodilla Cafe on a post next to the street. We didn’t find any arrows near the Cathedral. We’re on our way…currently in Manzanares el Real. Thanks to all again for your responses.

 

[Liica]

Hi all, I’m sitting in the Rodilla Cafe on Plaza Castilla after looking for an arrow or some sign to show the start of the Camino Madrid. My sister and I hope to begin walking tomorrow morning, but we’re unsure where to start. Any help would be appreciated.

Open google Maps. Head to Plaza de Santiago and follow the signs. Pl. de Santiago, 2, Centro, 28013 Madrid

 

[David Tallan]

I am a bit confused. We will walk the Camino de Madrid in the Spring. After looking at Google Maps, the Plaza de Santiago and the photo provided are right by the church and make perfect sense as the start of the Camino de Madrid.

However, I´m confused by the references to Plaza Castilla. Per Googe Maps, it´s something like 12 km from the church. Is there more than one Plaza Castilla in Madrid? Or is it just an alternative location in Madrid where you can pick up the Camino de Madrid?

As a side note, I love the photo with the double way marking for Uclés and Santiago. We´re going to start our camino walking from Uclés to Madrid, so it´s very cool that that camino is marked all the way to the start of the Camino de Madrid.

Like all Caminos, the Camino de Madrid starts where you want it to start. Most of the pilgrims I talked to on my Camino de Madrid (including myself) were starting from their front door.

That said, the traditional start is often considered to be, as mentioned above, the Church of Santiago and San Juan Bautista. From their you walk north through the city, without the benefit of yellow arrows, until Plaza de Castilla or a little built further on. Some of those who don't enjoy walking through a city, especially without the benefit of yellow arrows, may take the Metro and start at Plaza de Castilla.

It doesn't hurt to have a GPS route of the Camino through Madrid, although one is not obliged to follow it.