5 most interesting personalities on the Portuguese Camino de Santiago.

The Portuguese Camino de Santiago is much more than the millennia-old cities we cross, the magical mountains we climb or the pain endured by all pilgrims. In reality, this is a journey made by people. That's why this article is about them. You'll meet legends, hospitable people and soulful walkers. Read on to discover 5 inspiring personalities that you'll only find on the millenary route.

The 5 most interesting personalities on the Portuguese Camino de Santiago are (or were) real people. Although each one is different in their own way, their stories always have something in common: the ancient trail. So, to pay tribute to these human beings, we've written a little about them, what they mean to us and where you can find them.

Barbosa, from Barbosa's café. 

Anyone leaving Vairão has to pass by its esplanade. Impossible to miss, despite its small size, it seems to accommodate the entire community of pilgrims who pass through. The contagious energy, often helped by people singing and playing music from all over the world, forces you to stop and experience it. 

However, the real magic happens when we meet Barbosa, the owner of the café with the same name. With his friendliness and admiration for hikers, he makes you feel at home from the first moment. 

A conversation with this gentleman is a world-winner. From the art festival he created in Vila do Conde to his many adventures around the world, we have, in human form, a representation of the Camino de Santiago.

Don't forget to visit and tell them you've come from the Portuguese Camino de Santiago.  

Don Pepe. 

We're fortunate that our journey passes through Padrón, so we can get to know Don Pepe. This is a haven for walkers from all over the world. So much so that the walls are lined with gifts and scarves that pilgrims give to the house. 

But, as in all establishments, the decoration is just a way of showing the nature of the person who runs it. In this case, it's Pepe. He's one of those people who, at first glance, disarms you with his kindness and an enthusiastic greeting. 

You can thank him for his kindness by writing in one of his notebooks, which are already full of signatures from people who have walked the route, just like you. According to him, going to Padrón and not meeting him is like traveling to the Vatican and not seeing the Pope. So, you know, on your last leg, take the opportunity to make a friend for life.

Carlos Rios.

We haven't had the chance to meet him in person yet, but anyone who has spent time in our Facebook group will know who he is at first glance. His figure resembles the idea we all have of a pilgrim. And for good reason, since he's been walking the Camino de Santiago for 30 years and has even been to Vatican City and back. 

Not only is he a connoisseur of our favorite trail, but also someone who protects it every day. Already one of the best-known personalities on the Portuguese Camino de Santiago, he took part in an article about it.

Here, he revealed that, in order to make the Camino, we can't see it as a simple journey or a diversion. You have to respect the various routes that each pilgrim who has ventured to Santiago de Compostela has taken. 

The millennial stretch is a moment of self-knowledge. That's why it's necessary to give up a few comforts. No one knows this better than Mr. Carlos Rios, whom we hope to meet one day on one of his crossings. 

The two Marias. 

Let's now turn to the history of the city that always awaits us: Santiago de Compostela. Although these people are not directly linked to the Way, they are part of the Galician capital and are a way of remembering this country's recent past. 

Anyone who has strolled through the city's Alameda Park has seen a statue of two women arm in arm and dressed in bright colors. They are the "Two Marys". Sisters as different as they were inseparable, in the 50s and 60s they were a social phenomenon on the streets of this town. 

This was because they went out every day at lunchtime. Their clothes and the way they interacted with the students, often with jokes, made them stand out from the crowd in the always busy Galician capital. 

However, their story is one of violence. At a time of dictatorship, part of the Two Sisters' family was persecuted for being part of anarchist movements. In order to discover their whereabouts, our protagonists were tortured and raped. For many people, this was the reason behind the behavior of the two sisters, who today can walk freely around their city without fear. 

Santiago. 

We couldn't finish our article without the person who gave it its name: the Apostle James. Brother of the Apostle John, they were named after the sons of thunder, thanks to their impulsive and warlike nature.

According to some traditions and legends, this follower of Jesus chose the region of Galicia to preach the gospel and look for followers of the word of Christ. However, the mission didn't go as expected and he ended up with only nine disciples and few followers. He therefore left two of his closest followers with the responsibility of spreading Christianity and returned to Judea, where he was killed.

You can read that story here, where we talk about the Catholic traditions that created the Camino de Santiago as we know it today. 

You are also one of the personalities of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago. 

As you can see, the Camino is also made up of people and personalities who mark us on a daily basis and who live on in our memories. To find out more, don't forget to join our Facebook group. The Portuguese Camino de Santiago is a community of more than 60,000 people who share with you an immense passion for the ancient route. 

You can join at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caminhoportuguesdesantiago