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		History of the Camino de Santiago:  According to legend, in 40 AD the body of the Apostle St 
		James was clandestinely buried in Northern Spain and in 814, a 
		hermit witnessed a shower of stars leading him to the secret tomb at 
		Santiago  That led to a golden age of pilgrimages 
		as people from all over Europe flocked to the site. One of the  
		routes led north 
		through Portugal to Santiago although there were different 
		Portuguese trails - one coastal and several interior.  By the 
		1500's pilgrimage fell out of fashion and the footpaths were forgotten 
		until, in the late 20th century, the Spanish and Portuguese governments 
		saw a market for eco-tourism and revive the trails.
 
 About the Portuguese Camino Route
 There are many variants but the two main routes are the inland (central) 
		route and the coastal route.
 
 Our guided walk:
 Our route combines the best of both the coastal and the inland Camino 
		routes.
 		We start at historic Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage city. The trail 
		winds north along the coast to the Spanish border and then continues on 
		the inland route through Galicia to Santiago.  We  cover the most scenic and historic stages.  
		Having two guides allows a choice of distance each day. You can walk an easy 
		section at a relaxed pace or challenge yourself with a longer walk.  Our 
		accommodation is in lovely Pousadas, comfortable inns and historic 
		Paradors. Walking does wonders for body, mind and spirit but our walks 
		have NO religious focus. However, it is possible to walk the last 100 
		km into Santiago thus earning the official Compostela certificate.
 
 Level of Difficulty: The terrain is 
		easy to moderate with some hills. Each day we divide into two 
		groups, each with its own guide. Our support bus follows and is 
		available to assist at various junctions along the way.
 
 Our meeting point:  Porto     
      End of Tour:  Santiago de Compostela
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