Arriving in Santiago

[Jackie305]

Hi, I will be doing the Camino Portuguese, starting in O Porrino. I had previously walked the Camino Primitivo, from Lugo. I am interested in entering Praza do Obradoiro through the "tunnel" with the bagpipe player. I have tried to search on the best route into Santiago, but cannot find what I am looking for. Most maps/ suggestions have me entering the square, with the Cathedral in front of me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Buen Camino everyone

 

[Maurice Frank]

The Mosterio de San Martin Pinario is right before the tunnel. If you do google or Apple Maps directions to there once you are in Santiago you are well positioned to pass through the tunnel

If you have access to the Frances Route (it’s on Camino Ninja app) you can follow the Frances Route in if you can pick it up before the Cathedral

Buen Camino

 

[Jackie305]

Thank you Maurice, I will look that up.
Buen Camino

 

[jungleboy]

The Portuguese does indeed enter Santiago from a different direction. Here on this map from @wisepilgrim you can see the Portuguese route entering the Praza do Obradoiro in green, and the tunnel I have circled in red. You can just divert when you get near the cathedral, go around the back side of it, and enter through the tunnel. Also remember that while the tunnel is a popular spot for gaiteiros (Galician bagpipe players), there's no guarantee one will be there at the precise moment you walk through.

 

[Jackie305]

Thank you JungleBoy, that helps me visualize it.
Buen Camino

 

[David Tallan]

The Portuguese does indeed enter Santiago from a different direction. Here on this map from @wisepilgrim you can see the Portuguese route entering the Praza do Obradoiro in green, and the tunnel I have circled in red. You can just divert when you get near the cathedral, go around the back side of it, and enter through the tunnel. Also remember that while the tunnel is a popular spot for gaiteiros (Galician bagpipe players), there's no guarantee one will be there at the precise moment you walk through.

View attachment 176532

It's not surprising. The map that jungleboy is sharing probably has north at the top. When you walk the Camino Portugues, you are walking north to Santiago. It thus makes pretty good sense that you'd approach the square from the south. When you walk the Camino Frances, you walk west to Santiago. So it makes sense that you would appraach the square from the east. What you need to do is head east before you get to the Cathedral, turning north again only after you have passed the cathedral, and then head east along the north side of the Cathedral, to the square.

 

[Jackie305]

Thank you David !

 

[Rmarkob]

Having done my first Camino (Frances) solo I video'd my passage through the tunnel and sent it to my family. On my second Camino (Portugues) with my wife I wanted her to have the experience of the tunnel and pipes, so I did as Jungleboy recommends. We went around the back of the Cathedral across Praza da Quintana, past the Holy Door, and then turned left towards the tunnel.

 

[Jackie305]

Thank you Rmarkob