Pilgrims on the Way

Turns out, it was Charlie’s 70th birthday, and Carlos was going to turn 30 in just a couple of days. So Charlie invited a slew of us out to dinner on his dime. We spent the evening feasting and drinking and singing until late. It was a glorious time, and there’s nothing quite like a group of Irish peregrinos singing […]

After visiting the Iglesia San Pedro de la Rúa, we took a moment on the portico to soak in the view of the town of Estella. It’s such a lovely town. I’ve stayed here on both of our long Caminos, and I still feel like I haven’t really seen it. Maybe next time. Date: 05 April 2013Place: Estella (Navarra, Spain)

I don’t know the story behind this image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Iglesia San Pedro de la Rúa in Estella, but it’s similar to the one found in Eunate. I immediately felt drawn to her. Perhaps its my penchant for the Romanesque. The rest of the retablo she’s ensconced in is of much later construction. Date: 05 April 2013Place: […]

The Iglesia San Pedro de la Rúa in Estella contains one of my favourite statues of Santiago. This is it. He’s just hanging out on a pillar in the nave. There’s something about the face that seems both kind and tough. In the background you can see the covered pulpit. Santiago in Estella Date: 05 April 2013Place: Estella (Navarra, Spain)

The interior of San Pedro de la Rúa is odd. It consists of three apses and corresponding nave(s). Although most of the church was built in the late 12th century, one of the apses was entirely reconstructed some five hundred years later. This is the chapel of San Andrés, and therein is a tale. The chapel houses the tomb of […]

This church is definitely not on the street, so obviously I don’t understand its name. To get to the front door, one must climb these steps. There is a modern elevator that you can take from the street level, but I’m pretty sure that doesn’t have anything to do with the name. I recently learned that the stairs are even […]

Looking for a new place to live? Back in 2013, there were some great places for sale in Estella, right next to the old city hall. I wonder if they’re still available? We’ve crossed back over the river in pursuit of the one church we’ve been told is actually open for visitors, San Pedro de la Rúa. I think it’s […]

The Río Ega winds its way through Estella. I took this photo from one of the bridges. It shows off the town’s steep topography pretty well. I’m not entirely sure which church that is in the background, although I suspect it’s the Iglesia de Santo Sepulcro. The town map below will give you a clearer idea of the river’s path. […]

The town of Estella is nestled in a steep river valley. The banks rise up into craggy hills throughout the town, giving it a fairly vertical topography. There are quite a few places where streets suddenly give way to long flights of stone stairs. On the left of this photo is the shored up plateau on which sits the Iglesia […]