Santa Catalina on the Camino
The Camino Frances enters Santa Catalina along its main street, cobbled and lined with stone houses. At 984 metres, the village marks the start of the climb towards the mountains of León, and pilgrims find hostels and bars here to get their strength back.
What to see in Santa Catalina de Somoza?
Maragato architecture
Maragato houses are large, with wooden gates through which the carts entered and a courtyard in the middle. They reflect the life of the muleteers, who carried goods between Galicia and Castile.
Stone, clay and wood combine in solid buildings that blend into the landscape.
History
The village is medieval and had a small pilgrim hospital, of which only the memory remains. The church keeps a relic of Saint Blaise, much venerated in the area.
A hamlet of Astorga, it has always lived from farming and livestock.
Food
As throughout the Maragatería, the king of dishes is cocido maragato, served back to front: meats first, chickpeas next and soup at the end.
Cured meats, honey, sheep’s cheese and home-made bread complete the table.
Festivities
The patron saint’s day is Saint Catherine of Alexandria, on 25 November.
The surroundings
All around stretch oaks, holm oaks and rockrose, with birds of prey, roe deer and wild boar: the landscape begins to change on the way to the mountains.
Services
Santa Catalina has hostels, a rural house or two and bars for pilgrims.
In short
Santa Catalina de Somoza is a Maragato stone village that invites a quiet stop before El Ganso and Rabanal.
| Country | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomous community | Castilla y León | |
| Province | Province de León | |
| Comarca | Maragatería | |
| Judicial district | Astorga | |
| Municipality | Astorga | |
| Location | 42°27′16″N 6°09′31″W | |
| Elevation | 984 m | |
| Population | 47 residents (INE 2017) | |
| Postal code | 24718 | |
| Dialling code | 987 | |
| Website | Ayuntamiento de Astorga | |