The way out of Vairão is through the first path by the woods of the Portuguese central road. After Vilarinho the trail gains a green hue until arriving in Barcelos.

The D.Zameiro bridge crosses the Ave River and, besides the beauty of the landscape, it has a space dedicated to the resting of pilgrims. Despite its Roman appearance, there is no evidence that it was built by this civilization.

The Church of Arcos dates back to the 19th century. Built on top of a small hill, thanks to the efforts of the local and emigrant community of arcos, today it’s the town’s main attraction. Just 300 meters away you can stop to rest at the Barbosa coffee shop. The owner of the establishment, besides being very friendly, is a jack-of-all-trades. You won’t regret staying for a chat.

From this stage on, there are less than 200 kilometers to go to reach Santiago de Compostela. Take the opportunity to rest before arriving in the city of Barcelos on the benches around, or to grab a bite in the picnic area.

Barcelos is a city connected to the Way to Santiago. According to its best-known legend, it was the apostle James who saved the pilgrim from the gallows. In the chapel of Senhora da Ponte you can see the benches and the stone sinks for the pilgrims’ foot washing. It is also a university town, so it has several places to eat at a very affordable price. And, if it’s hot, you can take a dip in the river beach right at the entrance, next to the bridge over the Cávado river.