Camino from A Coruña, starting "somewhere else" - have you done it?

[Anamya]

A few years ago, local pilgrims organisation and parishes created a "Brazilian Camino" in the island of Florianopolis, south of Brazil. According to them, walking the 20-odd kms over there allows you to continue the path from A Coruña. Last week, there was a recognition ceremony by the local city government.

Coincidently, I have relatives living in that island, who I will visit early next yea. So I will try to do this "Brazilian Camino" and keep all the documents.

(Some info from the Local Friends of Camino here (in Portuguese: https://amigosdocaminho.com.br/caminhos/caminho-brasileiro-santiago-compostela/ )

The local church websites are very specific saying that the route from Florianopolis "must be followed by the route from A Coruña", so looks like my next Camino in Spain may be the Ingles and my relatives are excited to go with me.

Then I have a few questions:

1) Has anyone obtained a Compostela walking from A Coruña, having walked somewhere else before?

2) What did you need to show at the pilgrims office?

3) I don´t need a Compostela, but my relatives will be in their first camino and want one. How do you register this type of route in the Pilgrims office website?

 

[VNwalking]

Coruña, having walked somewhere else before?

2) What did you need to show at the pilgrims office?

Yes.
I walked for 2 days in Ireland, getting stamps in an Irish cofraternity credencial - then continuing in the same credencial from A Coruña. Nothing extra was needed.

 

[Anamya]

Yes.
I walked for 2 days in Ireland, getting stamps in an Irish cofraternity credencial - then continuing in the same credencial from A Coruña. Nothing extra was needed.

This is very useful information. I saw they created a cute Florianopolis Confraternity Credential (with the cross, the shell and a little coffee branch) that i could get for that camino. It would add a lovely layer of meaning to walk a Camino with a document from a place that is very dear to me

Now I only wonder how to register at the Pilgrim office. If you select "Camino Inglés", the non-Spanish starting points are Ireland, England or Rest of Europe.... which would not be appropriate for this case.

 

[alexcosta99]

Hi Anamya
I am echoing what VNwalking has said:
1) Yes, I received my compostela a few days ago. I had originally walked in the UK on the Reading- Southampton route and got stamped in my pilgrim passport (remember 2 a day for the last 100km).

2) You will just need to show your pilgrim passport with at least 2 stamps per day you walked from A Coruña. You can get your first stamp from the Tourist Information office in Plaza de Maria Pita which is a few minutes away from the starting point at Igrexa de Santiago.

3) I'd suggest emailing the pilgrim's office to see when they'll add the Brazil route option/what to select at http://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/pilgrims-reception-office/

Buen Camino

 

[K_Lynn]

I can't answer any of your questions, but you can start Camino Ingles in Ferrol which will give you the distance required for the compostela.

 

[Tincatinker]

I can't answer any of your questions, but you can start Camino Ingles in Ferrol which will give you the distance required for the compostela.

And you can start the Ingles in A Coruña provided you have walked the qualifying distance elsewhere.

The wonderful thing about the Pilgrim Office rules on qualification for a Compostela is that those very rules are set by the Pilgrim Office. That's why you can walk the 99.3km from Lugo and still get your 100km badge

 

[Camino Chrissy]

That's why you can walk the 99.3km from Lugo and still get your 100km badge

And that's also why you can walk every step from SJPdP to Santiago, looking forward to an 800km Distance Certificate, but the Pilgrim Office has pre-determined it's only 799km.

 

[Anamya]

3) I'd suggest emailing the pilgrim's office to see when they'll add the Brazil route option/what to select at http://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/pilgrims-reception-office/

I have messaged them a few days ago, hopefully they will answer soon and I will share it here in the forum.

It's so exciting that there is a recognized route in the island where I spent most of my childhood. Can´t wait to go back there and give it a try.

 

[Anamya]

you can start Camino Ingles in Ferrol which will give you the distance required for the compostela.

That´s what we will do if I don´t receive any response from the Pilgrim´s office. But the parishes in Florianopolis have been very clear about the "continuation" of the trail from A Coruña, because of it being the port for pilgrims coming by boat to Spain (Florianopolis was a fisherman island and boats are still an important part of life to many locals).

Of course this is all an arbitrary decision of the parishes and pilgrims office. But of all places in this planet, I was born in that specific island. Kinda adds something to the route that I can´t explain, I just want to make it work.

 

[K_Lynn]

That´s what we will do if I don´t receive any response from the Pilgrim´s office. But the parishes in Florianopolis have been very clear about the "continuation" of the trail from A Coruña, because of it being the port for pilgrims coming by boat to Spain (Florianopolis was a fisherman island and boats are still an important part of life to many locals).

Of course this is all an arbitrary decision of the parishes and pilgrims office. But of all places in this planet, I was born in that specific island. Kinda adds something to the route that I can´t explain, I just want to make it work.

Oh wow! Yes, I would try to make that work as well! Buen Camino!

 

[Phil Smith]

Hi Anamya
I am echoing what VNwalking has said:
1) Yes, I received my compostela a few days ago. I had originally walked in the UK on the Reading- Southampton route and got stamped in my pilgrim passport (remember 2 a day for the last 100km).

2) You will just need to show your pilgrim passport with at least 2 stamps per day you walked from A Coruña. You can get your first stamp from the Tourist Information office in Plaza de Maria Pita which is a few minutes away from the starting point at Igrexa de Santiago.

3) I'd suggest emailing the pilgrim's office to see when they'll add the Brazil route option/what to select at http://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/pilgrims-reception-office/

Buen Camino

Hi Anamya
I am echoing what VNwalking has said:
1) Yes, I received my compostela a few days ago. I had originally walked in the UK on the Reading- Southampton route and got stamped in my pilgrim passport (remember 2 a day for the last 100km).

2) You will just need to show your pilgrim passport with at least 2 stamps per day you walked from A Coruña. You can get your first stamp from the Tourist Information office in Plaza de Maria Pita which is a few minutes away from the starting point at Igrexa de Santiago.

3) I'd suggest emailing the pilgrim's office to see when they'll add the Brazil route option/what to select at http://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/pilgrims-reception-office/

Buen Camino

Delighted to read this. I'm looking to do the St. James' Way from Reading to Southampton and then walking the Inglés from A Coruña in 2023 (hopefully). Was a little concerned as to whether it would qualify as I'm going with someone who has not yet walked a Camino and would want the Compostela. Very reassuring.

 

[Bradypus]

And that's also why you can walk every step from SJPdP to Santiago, looking forward to an 800km Distance Certificate, but the Pilgrim Office has pre-determined it's only 799km.

I got mine in 2016 and my one says it is 775km from SJPDP to Santiago. Are plate tectonics really powerful in northern Spain?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I got mine in 2016 and my one says it is 775km from SJPDP to Santiago. Are plate tectonics really powerful in northern Spain?

I had to google...very funny!