Distance: 26 km / 16 miles
Bus out of Leon to La Virgen del Camino
Stage Twenty-four Villages
Leon, La Virgen del Camino, Valverde de la Virgen, San Miguel del Camino, Villadangos del Paramo, Villar de Mazarife, Hospital de Orbigo
Watch For:
Leaving La Virgen del Camino – Detour: Villar de Mazarife. DO NOT TAKE. Fewer food stops & adds 4km/2.5 miles.
Leaving Valverde de la Virgen – Bodegas: A few times you’ll walk past private bodegas, the locked doors set into the mound or hillside and bearing various protective talismans such as mounted statues of saints, painted geometric designs, crosses, and bundles of herbs which guard the subterranean cellars where homemade wine and seasonal harvests are stored.
Leaving Villadangos del Páramo – Good bakery and general store: Just before exiting town. Hermanos García to the right that sells fresh-baked goods, fresh fruit, vegetables, olives, cheese, cold cuts.
Hospital de Órbigo – Knight’s crosses: Town’s knightly legend (Don Suero, Knights Templar, knights of the Order of Malta). White equal-armed crosses with red flags, inlaid white stone crosses in the walls and doors of several buildings.
Dining Recommendation: Bar-Restaurante Los Angeles (Calle Doctor Santos Oliera, 6). Well-wrought pilgrim menu. €10-15