Friday 29 September very warm near end of walk.

Checked carefully, we are staying in Viana only one night.   Today’s walk included one of the highest and steepest climbs of the Camino according to one book.  

Garmin 21.1 kms

Android 20

iPhone 18

Book 19.3

Not so much the highest;.  about 1200 ft of climbing.  Several hill towns along the way,  Sansole being the first.

Then came Torres del Río which is down a steep incline and then up another incline. In the center is a 12th century Romanesque of octagonal design based on the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The literature describes it as enigmatic.

Iglesia del Santo Sepulchre.

Another of the self made rest stops offering drinks and food and asking for donations. This one contained a nice collection of hitos, the stacked bricks that mark the road (also called miles – Román miles).

Viana is a hilltop walled City (bastide) of a certain age. Only parts are left, as is only part of a large church, now a ruin, adjacent to the wall.

View of the ruin from our hotel window, and a nice way to see how it was constructed.

The main historic attraction here is the very large Santa Maria.  Naturally closed but open for pilgrims Mass during dinner hour.  

To see the church I went to a pilgrims mass. Usually they are friendly affairs. Not here. Serious mass, long, not welcoming,  100% in Spanish, an extra long sermon for the pelegrinos.