The latest episode of The Camino Podcast focuses on the final Spanish region on the Way of Saint James, exploring its history and two local romerías:
Episode 36 – The Story of Galicia: Galicia, the northwest corner of Spain and the home of Santiago de Compostela, is beloved by most pilgrims. It is a place ensconced in legend, with stories ranging from its Celtic origins to the persistence of witches and the Santa Compaña. This episode explores the region’s history and stories. Dr. Sharif Gemie, author of Galicia: A Concise History, provides a survey of Galicia from its disputed origins to its contemporary cultural resurgence. Dr. Kristin Valentine follows with a description of two local pilgrimages, or romerías, to Muxía and Teixido. Combined, they are likely to challenge some of your assumptions about the region and also reveal some interesting new details.
Check out the additional links below for more information on this episode:
Dr. Sharif Gemie: You can find Sharif’s list of publications here. His survey of Galicia, Galicia: A Concise History, is currently out-of-print, though used copies are available online.
Dr. Kristin Valentine: You can find a short bio and partial list of publications here. Her piece on Teixido, “Dead or Alive: You’re Going to Teixido,” can be found in Fiction and Social Research: By Ice or Fire. Her essay on Muxía, “Healing at the Coast of Death in Spanish Galicia: The Romería to Our Lady’s Boat,” is accessible here. A short piece on “Storytelling in Spanish Galicia” can be accessed through Google Books.
San Andrés de Teixido: There aren’t a ton of great resources in English online about Teixido! “Tammy Tour Guide” has a nice introduction that’s worth a look. El País has a good intro in Spanish. I recommend this video on Youtube for some great visuals. And, for still images, you might check out these pics that I posted from a scouting trip to Teixido and the surrounding Ruta do Mar last December
