Skip to main content

Camino Frances 7 May 2024 - Free day in Astorga

A Day in Astorga: Beauty, Chocolate, and a Battle with the Common Cold

Astorga is a town that feels like it was plucked straight out of a storybook, and our hotel couldn’t have been more perfectly situated. Right across the road stood two of Astorga’s most iconic landmarks: the Palacio de Gaudí and the Cathedral of Santa María de Astorga. With such a prime location, we barely needed to walk far to soak in the town’s charm and history.

The day began with a visit to the Palacio de Gaudí, a whimsical, fairytale-like building designed by the legendary architect Antoni Gaudí. Its unique blend of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles left me in awe, and exploring its halls felt like stepping into another world. However, as much as I wanted to fully immerse myself in the experience, my body had other plans. 


After the palace visit, I retreated to the hotel for some much-needed rest. A recent fall had left my hand throbbing, and my body ached all over. To make matters worse, a cold was starting to take hold—it felt like my immune system was so focused on healing my hand that it forgot about my lungs entirely. 


While I napped, Kim and Alison set off to explore the Museo del Chocolate, lured by the promise of a chocolate factory. To their surprise (and slight disappointment), it turned out to be a museum instead. Still, they returned with some delicious chocolate treats and lunch for me, which was a much-appreciated gesture.


I’ll admit, it felt a little ironic to be sleeping in such an incredible city, but sometimes your body just demands a timeout.

Here’s a fun fact we picked up along the way: all Spanish churches feature a wind cock on their tower and typically have two towers. The exception in Toledo, where the second tower kept collapsing—apparently, even architecture has its limits!

Astorga is truly a hidden gem, a place brimming with history, beauty, and charm. While my day was cut short by my battle with a cold and a sore hand, it only made me more determined to return someday and explore everything this enchanting town has to offer. Until then, I’ll be dreaming of Gaudí’s fairytale palace and, of course, chocolate. 

Steps 5,640 

Accommodation:  Hotel Gaudi

Kim, Louise & Alison
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Camino Portuguese Friday, 24 April 2026 - From Lisbon to Porto: Castles, Miracles, and a Chapel in the Sea

Friday, 24 April 2026 – From Lisbon to Porto: Castles, Miracles, and a Chapel in the Sea Today we finally headed to Porto. Alison had the brilliant idea months ago to book a private tour from Lisbon to Porto, and it turned out to be the best decision. Our driver, João, picked us up at 9:00 am, and we slipped out of the city, leaving the morning rush behind. The scars of the storm Driving north, we couldn't help notice the pine forests. Many looked brutally harvested, but the truth was worse. A cyclonic storm tore through here a couple of months ago, flattening homes, villages, and vast swaths of trees. The ones still standing are permanently bent—eerie sentinels of what came through. Petrol watch €2.13 per litre. Back home in Australia, we grumble at $2.65. Perspective is a funny thing. First stop: Óbidos We entered through the Porta da Vila, a tiled gateway into a 12th-century medieval hilltop town (because of course it's on a hilltop). Our first order of business? Gin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Camino Portuguese Thursday, 23 April 2026 - Exploring Lisbon.

Thursday, 23 April 2026 - Exploring Lisbon After a simple but perfect breakfast of croissants with butter and jam from the supermarket, we set out for a full day exploring Lisbon. Our walk began along Rua Augusta, where the street is lined with restaurants and outdoor seating with a variety of food - lucky we had breakfast. At the end of the street stands the impressive Arco da Rua Augusta, which opens into the vast Praça do Comércio. The square stretches out toward the river and is home to the grand equestrian statue of King José I, giving the whole space a sense of history and scale. From there, we began the steady climb uphill to the Igreja de Santo António de Lisboa, the birthplace of Saint Anthony. Not far away, we visited Lisbon Cathedral, where we received our first stamp in our pilgrim credencial—a small but meaningful milestone. By then, we were ready for a treat, so we stopped for ice cream before heading downhill toward the Tagus River, where cruise ships quietly lined t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Camino Portuguese Friday 01/05/2026 Vila Praia de Ancora Portugual to A Guardia Spain

01/05/2026 Friday Today we walked from Vila Praia de Âncora, Portugal, to A Guarda, Spain. We started along the coast, passing donkeys and goats, plus a peloton of cyclists up on the highway—we could hear them coming long before they arrived. A celebration race for May Day, a public holiday. When we reached Caminha, we found a water taxi and crossed the Minho River into Galicia, Spain. We ordered tea and a cold drink at a café, though Kim and Alison only got half a small cup of tea. Then we ate our bread rolls in a park and decided our routes. Kim and Julie took the long, flat coastal path, while Alison and I tackled the hills to see the Celtic village ruins. When we finally reached the first house, I told Alison to look around while I waited. She took two steps up and said, "You have to see this." She was right—it was amazing. The village houses were built of stone in circular shapes, packed so closely together that you couldn't walk between some of them. Was the climb w...
Post a Comment
Read more