A Lavacolla

Stage 34 · O Pedrouzo – Santiago de CompostelaA Coruna Province
{“hide_search_input”:false,”hide_near_input”:false,”input_size”:””,”bar_flex_wrap”:””,”bar_flex_wrap_md”:””,”bar_flex_wrap_lg”:””,”input_border”:””,”input_border_opacity”:””,”input_rounded_size”:””,”btn_bg”:””,”btn_rounded_size”:””,”btn_rounded_size_md”:””,”btn_rounded_size_lg”:””,”bg”:””,”mt”:””,”mr”:””,”mb”:”3″,”ml”:””,”pt”:””,”pr”:””,”pb”:””,”pl”:””,”border”:””,”rounded”:””,”rounded_size”:””,”rounded_size_md”:””,”rounded_size_lg”:””,”shadow”:””,”css_class”:””}

What is there in A Lavacolla

A Lavacolla is a place in the parish of A Sabugueira, in the municipality of Santiago de Compostela, in A Coruna Province, on the Camino Frances.

Today its name is associated above all with Santiago airport, but for pilgrims it has a much older meaning. The Codex Calixtinus guide already mentioned the river here as the one where pilgrims washed out of love for the Apostle before reaching the city, removing the dirt of weeks on the road; according to the most popular explanation, the name itself derives from that custom, although there are other, more prosaic etymologies. The village, of about a hundred and fifty residents twelve kilometres from the cathedral, has a Neoclassical church from 1840 with a stone cross beside it. Nobody bathes in the stream today, but crossing it still has something of a rite: from here on, pilgrims feel Santiago within reach.

Accommodation in A Lavacolla

Guesthouse Xacobeo LavacollaPensionGuesthouse Xacobeo LavacollaHotel Restaurant Garcas LavacollaHotelHotel Restaurant Garcas LavacollaHostel A Fabrica LavacollaHostelHostel A Fabrica LavacollaRestaurant and Guesthouse Saint Pelagius of CordobaGuesthouseRestaurant and Guesthouse Saint Pelagius of Cordoba

Distances from A Lavacolla

From A Lavacolla to Vilamaior it is about 1.5 km.

To San Marcos it is about 4 km.

And to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in Santiago de Compostela, about 10.5 km remain.

Lavacolla, in the parish of Sabugueira (municipality of Santiago), is the last hamlet before Monte do Gozo. Pilgrims cross it passing beside the airport and over the stream that gives it its name.

The name

The Codex Calixtinus calls the place Lavamentula and tells that French pilgrims washed there «not only their faces but their whole bodies» before reaching Santiago, out of love for the Apostle. The name refers to that washing of the private parts, although the word softened over the centuries.

What to See in A Lavacolla?

New Chapel

Chapel of Saint Roch A Lavacolla

Chapel of Saint Roch in A Lavacolla The Chapel of Saint Roch is a chapel in A Lavacolla, A Coruna
Church
Iglesia de San Paio de Sabugueira Camino de Santiago Frances 768x403

Church of Saint Pelagius of Córdoba Sabugueira

Church of Saint Pelagius of Sabugueira in Lavacolla The Church of Saint Pelagius of Sabugueira is located in the parish

The pilgrim’s bath

In the Middle Ages pilgrims washed here so as to arrive clean before the tomb of Saint James the Greater, after weeks or months on the road.

The bath is no longer practised, but many stop for a moment beside the stream.

The Lavacolla stream

The stream is small and the Camino crosses it on a simple bridge, a few kilometres from Santiago de Compostela.

The little bridge is a spot for photos and for encounters between pilgrims on the final stretch.

Lavacolla in history

Thanks to the 12th-century Codex Calixtinus, Lavacolla is one of the places on the Camino with the most written history, and it later appears in many travel accounts.

Pilgrims from all over Europe passed this way on their last day of walking.

The airport

Santiago airport, known as Lavacolla airport, opened in the 1930s, lies in the parish. The Camino skirts it round the end of the runway.

Airport
Aeropuerto de Santiago Camino de Santiago Frances 768x403

Airport de Santiago

Aeropuerto de Santiago de Compostela Santiago-Rosalia de Castro Airport The Santiago-Rosalia de Castro Airport (IATA code: SCQ), formerly known as

Services

There are hostels, guesthouses and restaurants, although most pilgrims prefer to carry on to Monte do Gozo or Santiago.

Towards Monte do Gozo

Shortly afterwards, via San Marcos, you reach Monte do Gozo, from where pilgrims saw the towers of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela for the first time.

From there about five kilometres remain to the Praza do Obradoiro.

How to get there

It is reached by road from Santiago and by bus. On foot, the Camino continues towards San Marcos and Monte do Gozo.

In short

A Lavacolla is the last washing place in the history of the Camino Frances: here pilgrims got ready to present themselves before Saint James the Greater.

Camino de Santiago Frances
Privacy overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

You can review our Privacy Policy.