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Astorga

After three days of travel we have arrived at the starting point for this year's Camino! The weather is hot - about 20 degrees Celsius now and after the winds and hail back home it almost feels like we've gone through some magical portal to summertime!









Already I've noticed more English speakers than before and have very briefly talked to three ladies from England,  this is unheard of on my Caminos where I never see anyone from England walking.



We arrived just in time for the Good Friday parade





You can just see the Cathedral in the background here

 Then it was time to find a bed at the private albergue here (for 9 euros and chosen as it has a good kitchen but seeing as its Good Friday the supermarket is closed so we'll be eating out tonight!)

Astorga was founded as a Roman city in 14 BC and was named by the Emperor Octavian as Asturica Augusta although evidence of people living here has been found from the iron ages.
Some of the Roman remains - the municipal albergue is in the background


Astorga has sheltered Pilgrims for a long time and at its height had 21 pilgrim hospitals.

 The Bishop's Palace was built between 1889 and 1913 and is one of only three Gaudi buildings outside Catolonia and was commissioned by Bishop Gray who was a friend of Gaudi.
The building work on the Cathedral started in 1471 and was finished in the 18th century.

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