The path through San Cristovo (not on LU633) is on a forested trail most of the way to Samos, but with only a bar (may or may not be open) in Renche (1.7km after San Cristovo). After passing the tiny village of San Martino, you will see a sign welcoming you to Samos. The view gives you a perspective of the Monastery San Xulian.

Church and Mass - The history of the Benedictine monastery stretches back over the ages to the 11th c. and possibly earlier. The buildings show influences of the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. There are 30-minute tours between 09:30-12:30 & 16:30-18:30 for 4€. Vespers 19:30 every day, followed by Mass.

Café Espana, plaza de España , has great cafés con leche and napolitanas. 2 supermercados, one at each end of the village. Better selection at the second one. Farmacia open Monday-Saturday.

14.6 km to Sarria (via Rio Oribio and avoiding most of the main road). 2 km after leaving Samos, turn right at Restaurant Pontenovo to avoid walking on the road all the way to Sarria. Here you can enjoy the last truly peaceful part of the camino before the number of pilgrims significantly increases in Sarria. There are no services for the 7 km between Pontenovo and San Mamed, when the route connects with the San Xil route from Triacastela.

You pass the Romanesque cemetery Chapel of Santa Eulalia de Pascais, 12th c. shrine near San Frollais and the villages of Fontan, Sivil, A Veiga, and Pieros (Chapel of Virgen del Camino).

We know there has been a monastery in Samos since 665 but there is a belief that this monastery may have been founded as early as the sixth century by Saint Martín de Braga. Saint Martín de Braga originally came from Hungary and had a great love of walking going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Rome, Arles and Tours. He started his pastoral work in Galicia and eventually became a bishop in Dume near Braga, Portugal.

In 922 King Ordoño II of León bought monks from the monastery of San Juan de la Peña in Aragon in order to introduce the rule of Saint Benedict and it remained a Benedictine monastery until the dissolution of catholic religious orders in 1835. The rule of Saint Benedict returned to the monastery in 1880 and it remains a working Benedictine monastery to this day.

The monastery has several architectural styles in its construction; Late Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. This reflects that the monastery has survived two major fires and undergone at least seven major rebuilds in 960, 1539, 1558, 1685, 1734, 1880 and 1951. The last rebuild was after a major fire in 1951 and was strongly supported by General Franco. Franco was born in Ferrol and when in the area he would often attend mass at the monastery. In 1960 he presided over the re-inauguration of the monastery after the 1951 fire.

Tours cost €3 and last about 90 minutes. The monastery is closed for visitors on Tuesdays. On all other weekdays the tours are at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 16:30 and 17:30. At the weekend there are only three tours a day at 12:45, 16:30 and 17:30. Contact details are the same as for the monastery’s albergue below.

If you are staying at the albergue you may join the monks at their daily prayers (matins @ 07:00, lauds and mass at 08:30, vespers @ 17:30 and compline @ 22:00).