Villarente: The Way of St. James, Bridge and History

Villarente brings together the history of the Way of St. James with buildings and art spanning several centuries. At Puente Villarente, the Way of St. James crosses the Porma over a stone bridge. A historic pilgrims’ hostel, a path through the river floodplain and sacred art complete the picture. For your trip, these offer three perspectives to explore: the pilgrimage route, the history of its hostel and the architectural heritage along the river.

Bridge, Pilgrims’ Footbridge and River Floodplain

Puente Villarente is a Roman bridge over the Porma. It originally had twenty arches; after a flood in the 14th century, some of its piers were lost. The Way of St. James crosses the Porma at Puente Villarente over a stone bridge.

Pilgrims can also use a footbridge to avoid road traffic. It provides access to the river and offers panoramic views of the bridge. The path leading to it descends through woodland in the river floodplain to the water. Two perspectives thus meet at the crossing: the stone bridge as part of the Way of St. James, and the footbridge as a route to the river with a view of the structure.

Pilgrims’ Hostel and Building History

The history of pilgrimage is also reflected in the former hostel. The prior of Triacastela founded the Hospital de Villarente next to the bridge in 1539. The historic pilgrims’ hostel stood at the junction of the Camino Francés and the Ruta Vadiniense – Picos de Europa. The year, founder and location on two named routes bring different historical connections together: its founding story and its place on the pilgrimage routes.

La Casona is now a restaurant in the former pilgrims’ hostel. The building has a Renaissance courtyard with columns from Lancia. Alongside its former use as a hostel, this distinctive architectural feature also shapes the history of the place. If you would like to visit La Casona, check the restaurant’s current details in advance, as operating information may change.

Sacred Art and Its Origins

A 16th-century statue of the patron saint is kept in the parish church of San Pelayo in Villarente. It is in the Castilian style and shows some Flemish influence. Another work associated with San Pelayo can be found at the Museo de León: a 15th-century panel depicting the saint’s martyrdom is kept there. It comes from an altarpiece in Villarente’s now-vanished church. The two works differ in form and location: the statue is in the parish church, while the panel from the altarpiece is kept in the museum.

Rest Stops and Riverside

For walkers, the two rest stops are useful landmarks along the route: one is before, and the other after, crossing Villarente. On the banks of the Porma, there are toilets, barbecue areas, benches and tables. As these facilities may change, check conditions on site.

Discover more destinations: Santa Eulalia De Cabrera, El Acebo De San Miguel, Cistierna, Santa Lucía de Gordón, Santa Cruz de Montes, Carrizo De La Ribera, San Justo de la Vega, Vallecillo.

For the full travel overview: León.