Walking the Camino de Santiago
You might think this is a painting or a model, but no. This is the actual bridge that the Camino takes over the N-120. Amazing, no? Thereafter, the path (more of a dirt road, really) parallels the highway for quite some time. Date: 09 April 2016 Place: Between Santo Domingo de la Calzada and Grañón (La Rioja, Spain) Maps!
» Read more
This monument is roughly halfway between Santo Domingo de la Calzada and Grañón. It commemorates a hand-to-hand fight between the champions of these two towns in medieval times. They were to determine which town had the right to graze their animals on the surrounding disputed field. For their champion, the people of Santo Domingo chose a professional fighter, paying him […]
» Read more
The humble saint, Santo Domingo de la Calzada is so-called because be built a calzada – a causeway – over the Río Oja in the year 1044. Well, this is the spot. It’s a much newer bridge, of course, dating to 1917, but this is the spot where the saint built the first one. Well, more or less. The channel […]
» Read more
Honestly, I could easily spend a couple of days in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Indeed, last time, I stayed here for the night. This time, however, it’s mid-day, and there are kilometers to go before we sleep. We decide to push on to Grañón, which is only another couple of hours, and find beds there. Date: 09 April 2016 […]
» Read more
Given the long and storied history of Santo Domingo de la Calzada and chickens, I don’t think that this photo needs much in the way of explanation. Date: 09 April 2016 Place: Santo Domingo de la Calzada (La Rioja, Spain)
» Read more
On the recommendation of a random local, we found a beautiful local place for lunch above a shop. I took the opportunity to photograph our Camino mascots. The chicken, purchased at a shop down the street from the Cathedral, replaces one that I purchased and subsequently lost on my last Camino. Francine purchased the sheep – which makes a sound […]
» Read more
After visiting the saint (and the chickens), and before we head out to find lunch, we pause a moment in the square and look back at the cathedral itself. In the square, we are accosted by an expatriate Englishman named Roderick. “Accosted” is perhaps too strong a word. Detained? Engaged in conversation? In any case, he had clearly been living […]
» Read more
Pilgrims and parishioners mix in the Cathedral square in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. We are but passing through, but for many of these young Catholics, they are passing through the sacrament of Confirmation and joining the Church Militant – that portion of the communion of saints still walking upon the earth. And no doubt some of them will take […]
» Read more
The Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada is famous for having the only Vatican-approved chicken run in the world. Permission was granted by Rome in the twelfth century to house the descendants of the original legendary pair here. On October 6, 1350, Pope Clement VI granted an indulgence for the faithful who pray the Divine Office in the Cathedral […]
» Read more
The interior of the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada was every bit as crowded as the square outside. This photo was taken from the Saint’s tomb across the nave of the church to a particularly spectacular side altar. Date: 09 April 2016 Place: Santo Domingo de la Calzada (La Rioja, Spain)
» Read more