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Garcihernández to Alba de Tormes, Day Five on the Camino Teresiano, Part II, 9.83 Kilometers (6.1 Miles)

Alba de Tormes, where the tomb of St. Teresa of Jesus lies, is the final destination of the Camino Teresiano. Our Part II of day five guides you on the final 10 kilometers of this special route of Santa Teresa, from cradle to grave, "de la cuna al sepulcro," and takes you on a brief picture tour of the special sights of Alba.  

“It is foolish to think that we will enter heaven without entering into ourselves.”  ~ St. Teresa of Jesus

There is no better place to examine yourself and your life than walking on the high plateaus of the Camino Teresiano. I highly recommend that you read any of St. Teresa's complete works, prior to walking this Camino and I challenge you to not only complete one, but meditate on its meaning for you and your life. It is no easy task!

Maps and Stats of Day Five on the Camino Teresiano, Part II

Here is our interactive Google map created from our GPS tracks. There are no services and no water available in this 10 kilometer stretch between towns, so if you are doing this part as a long day, Garcihernández is the place to fuel up. 

I have included a shortcut in red, with a full description and rationale farther below. 

There are no accommodations in Garcihernández which is a shame. If you are looking for a place to stay in Alba de Tormes, click this link here. There is no municipal albergue in Alba, but you can inquire in advance at the Casa de Oración Teresa de Jesús (+34 923 30 02 11) on the Plaza Santa Teresa, about staying here at the convent. 

We have stayed right on the Plaza in the Hostal Residencia El Trébol, an adequate and economical place, however unfortunately, as of this writing it was for sale. We stayed instead, the second time in an apartment outside of the center, but it now too is off the market! Wow!

Walking on after our completion of part I of our day five on the southern route after 22 kilometers already under our belts, I must say that part II was tough. (This section on the Northern Route, broken into a total of 5 days, is much, much easier!) The afternoon had become quite hot and because of it the 60 meter (200 feet) climb felt strenuous. It felt even more strenuous with the addition of the 27 kilometers prior to the climb!

There is a total elevation gain for the stage of 150 meters (about 500 feet) and a bit less elevation loss on the long descent into Alba de Tormes. 

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Photo-Rich Travelogue for Day Five on the Camino Teresiano, Part II to Alba de Tormes

As I stated in part one, it was at about 15 kilometers, prior to arriving in Garcihernández that I felt a pain behind my left kneecap. Despite a rest break, the pain continued. I was less concerned by the pain because it was not constant, and I could still move my leg without difficulty. So I carried on. 

We passed the St. John the Baptist church, shown below, after our break at the Bar de Cuatro, and turned southwest, to the left, proceeding on the Calle Larga, shown in the next photo. 

After approximately 300 meters you see the grocery store, the Supermercado San Juan on your left. Another appropriate place to get a beverage and food, if it is open. It the photo, it was before 0900, so it was not open yet.  

The Calle Larga becomes the Calle Iryda after the grocery store, and soon you are on the open, paved road as you walk out of town. 

After approximately 600 meters more, the Calle Iryda comes to a T-intersection with the main road from Garcihernández to Alba de Tormes, the SA-114 once again.

We had logged a total of 22.9 kilometers at this juncture (from Mancera de Abajo) on the Southern Route, or about 6.0 kilometers if starting from Peñarandilla on the Northern Route. 

As you come to the intersection, on your right you can see a nice tractor lane, along the frontage of the SA-114. This is your path. 

The frontage lane becomes more obscure in places, and is more of a nice double footpath, albeit close to the road. We found this stretch to be not all that pleasant because the SA-114 is a busy road. However, it was definitely better than walking on the shoulder of the road itself. You can also see that the walk here is on a gradual incline. 

And then, eventually, you see a clump of trees  stretching out in front of you ahead. 

It is not quite 2.0 kilometers when you arrive at the clump of trees, and see the lane turn to cross the SA-114, at exactly the 22 km highway marker.  At this point we were at about 24.9 kilometers total on the Southern Route, or about 8.0 kilometers on the Northern Route.

My knee was complaining, but I carried on in silence. This was no suffering at all compared to what St. Teresa had to take on in her life. 

The Way to Alba de Tormes is clearly marked as forward, and up this farmer's lane. I knew that I was going in a direction that was more out of the way of the more direct route on the road, but I think I couldn't believe that the Camino planners would make it as far out of the way as it was going to be. 

The road continued its short steep climb, southwest, then east for a full 900 meters. Argh! It was a grunt, on the hot open terrain. This climb is the little solitary hump you see in the elevation profile above. 

Fortunately, the climb in the photo above ends before the top of the hill, and turns right after 900 meters, onto this tractor lane shown below. 

About 200 meters later, another right hand turn picks up this lane, shown below, heading towards the large farm in the photo. It is plain to see the SA-114 ahead once again, and the Way's return to it. After the first turn this loop road is called the Travesía Gabriel y Galán.

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700 meters later, we peered down the SA-114 to see what we could have taken instead of the far around loop. There is no shoulder to walk upon on the SA-114. I could see why the planners take the pilgrimage travelers on the loop.

It is approximately 1.1 kilometers longer on the Travesía Gabriel y Galán. The loop is 1.87 km and the direct approach on the SA-114 is 780 meters.

The second time through here, we just took the road, being prepared to jump off into the ditch if needed. Assess your own fortitude when you make your own choice. It may be worth the extra kilometer's walk for total safety. 

After  crossing the highway, the real climb of this section begins as you continue on straight, along the Travesía Gabriel y Galán, shown in the photo below. 

It is a full kilometer uphill, for a gain of about 50 meters (164 feet) until you come to the top of this incline, at the farm shown below. Sounds easy, doesn't it? Well, after about 28 kilometers on the road and in the heat of the day, it felt hard, at least to us. My left knee was holding up, but it still hurt. But I carried on, knowing myself sufficiently, that one day of pain was not going to ruin my knee forever. 

(*Please note that it is about 10.7 kilometers from Penarandilla to here, if you take the long way. You can subtract 1.1 kilometers from here on out on either route if you take the highway shortcut.)

It is here, at this farm that you take a left turn to continue onwards towards Alba de Tormes. If you were to stay straight on instead at the farm, there is a really nice vista, out over the Tormes River, that I could see up ahead in the distance. We did not walk out that way, as our energy reserves were rather low. 

Mercifully, it literally is all downhill from here! Alba's city limit is about 3.0 kilometers away. It was uplifting for us also, to see the mountains to the West, the first mountains that we had seen. We were going to go onward on the Via de la Plata, after this short Camino, and we loved the idea of a change in terrain. 

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Enroute, we passed several more large farms as the Camino Teresiano undulated in little ups and bigger downs. You can also catch more glimpses of the Tormes River and its reservoir to your right along the way. 

And eventually, of course, Alba and its large industrial buildings of Cobadu came into sight ahead at about half-way into the final approach to the city. It was a sight for sore eyes and weary legs.

This final stretch, despite being downhill seemed like Chinese water torture to us! I was only encouraged by the fact that a similar track, if not this very one, was trod many times by St. Teresa, and one last time, just before her death in Alba de Tormes. 

After another 1/2 kilometer, the city is in full view. What a relief it was! I set my own self up for this lengthy day, and I regretted it. It was all about the heat and my complaining knee!

I said a prayer of thanks when we arrived at the sign for Alba de Tormes city limit. There were less than 2.0 kilometers left until the center of town. I was going to make it! It was a total of close to 31 kilometers (or 12. 7) at this sign, for us. Too much! And longer than the "official" measurements that were given. 

We continued past the sign and turned right to join the Calle Peñaranda.

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We followed along the well-waymarked Calle Peñaranda for about 400 meters, until this intersection below, where a right turn onto Calle Salitre is taken

Shortly the Calle Salitre becomes the Calle Benitas. You follow this street for about 1/3 kilometer.

Next, you will come to this intersection, below, at the Calle Bulevar, where all the tourist signs guide you to go left toward the attractions of the city.

Walk down the Calle Bulevar until you come to a T-intersection with the Calle Hospital, shown below: turn right here. 

A few steps later, the Calle Hospital makes a big bend to the left and comes to another T-intersection with the Calle Sanchez Llevot, below. Turn right again. Note the small metal waymark on the sidewalk.

Walk only a few meters, and look for this pedestrian street to the left, shown below, the Calle Sanchez Rojas. Take it. You can see the destination ahead, the large St. Teresa poster on the Iglesia de San Juan de la Cruz. 

(If you were to stay straight here, the Plaza Mayor, the main plaza for Alba de Tormes, is just ahead, filled with cafés and the wonderful Iglesia de San Juan Apóstol!)

A few steps later, arrive in the Plaza Santa Teresa, with the famous Iglesia de San Juan de la Cruz before you, below.

However, the star attraction in this plaza is the Iglesia de la Anunciación, Sepulcro de Santa Teresa with the actual Tomb of St. Teresa, below. In the square, this church and convent are to the right (west) and you will know that you have finally arrived at the end of your pilgrimage! It is a glorious place indeed!

The albergue that I mentioned at the beginning of the article, is on the north end of the Santa Teresa plaza, in the Casa de Oración, Teresa de Jesús, and it looks like this. You must call or write ahead if you wish to stay in the convent complex. 

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First things first, for us, was when we were greeted in front of the Centro Teresiano Sanjuanista, shown below, by a friendly priest who was happy to explain what was here in this holy place, for us to see. (The second time, we were greeted equally warmly by the staff.)

This center contains the entrance to the museum and re-modeled grounds of the Convent of Discalced Carmelites in Alba de Tormes (Convento PP. Carmelitas Descalzos). Above the doorway entrance to the Center are the words of St. John of the Cross, "Entremos Más Adentro" or "Let's Go Deeper."

It is here where we inquired about the completion certificate called La Andariega for pilgrims. Instead, we were offered a special diploma. Please see our introductory article at Camino Teresiano for photos of these documents. 

However, the second time, after the staff person inquired of her partner, she was able to produce the official document, explicitly for the Camino Teresiano! 

After issuing to us our diploma, the kindly priest explained that the church (the Iglesia de la Anunciación) and museum (the Museo Carmelitano) that housed the tomb and the holy relics of St. Teresa, within the convent complex of the Madres MM. Carmelitas Descalzas, have similar hours (click on the link, afternoon hours 4-6:30 or 7:30 p.m) according to the season. The Centro Teresiano Sanjuanista museum hours are a bit different. (Convento PP. Carmelitas Descalzos, afternoon hours 4-7:00 p.m.) Plan your visits accordingly. 

We thanked the priest for the information, but then decided to go to the hotel for a quick clean-up and a brief nap, in an attempt to rejuvenate our bodies and our spirits after our long pilgrimage day to Alba de Tormes. We had one-and-a-half hours to do so, before the re-opening of the museums at 4:00.

After our brief rest period we set off for the Museo Carmelitano at 4:00. In order to find the museum, you must go back to the Plaza Mayor, find the Iglesia de San Juan Apóstol, and while facing it, look to your left and see this small alleyway called the Calle Sor Mariana de San José, below. The museum is behind the white umbrellas, to the left in the photo and is attached to the Iglesia de la Anunciación, and its entrance is essentially around the back of it. The admission price is very inexpensive, only a few Euros.

The museum contains many treasures of the convent. Below is one of many paintings. This one depicts the death scene of St. Teresa. 

There is also a tapestry room, and I photographed this one that commemorates the saint.

The museum is configured so that the upstairs communicates with the altar of the Iglesia de la Anunciación. On the altar lies the tomb of Santa Teresa. The backside of the tomb can be seen through the grilled window from the museum side, shown below.

The holy relics are behind the tomb, in the glass, ornamental display jars to the right and left of the angels that sit on top of the tomb. This communication allows for an up-close view of the tomb and relics.

I took a close-up of each of the relics, shown below. The first photo is of her heart, and the next of her arm bone. This is the most famous attraction of Alba de Tormes.

The viewing room behind the tomb is a holy and hushed place, with red velvet benches to sit upon. We sat there for some time, pondering the meaning of the saint's life and her impact on us, for the present day.

Her words ring true in my own life, as I had learned prior to this trip, that in order to get to know God, one had to get to know oneself. Walking this pilgrimage reinforced this Universal Truth for me and for my own quest to understand my own heart. Why do I do the things I do and say the things I say? How can I better release my self-absorption and find the path of compassion and love? 

Included in the price of the admission to the Museo Carmelitano is a tour of the actual cell where St. Teresa died. You will enter a back part of the church and into the convent cells, passing a portrait of St. Teresa, pictured next, writing as she is often portrayed. 

As you walk down the darkened corridor, her very death cell is here within this church and it appears before you, shown below. Fittingly, a portrait of Jesus is at the head of her bed.

On either side of the cell walls are paintings of her on her deathbed, shown in the next two photos below. 

After viewing her death cell, and honoring her Spirit, we returned to the Church of the Annunciation from the front side again. 

Here we learned that her original tomb was displayed along the left side of the nave. She was interred in this sepulcro, shown left, from 1615 until 1760, before being moved above the high altar in the Church of the Annunciation.

We turned our attention to her newest resting place within the altar of the church, below, with the angels gracing the top.

Here is a close-up of the tomb of Santa Teresa de Jesús, on the high altar of the Iglesia de Anunciación. It is a stunning sight from this angle.

We had stopped at the church prior to the museum, and didn't understand what it was that we were seeing at first. We didn't realize that the actual tomb was within the altar, until we visited the museum. I had never seen anything like this before, so I was very surprised when I realized what I was seeing.

We sat again in silence on a church pew for some time, pondering her words of wisdom, regarding the interior work that one must do to find God. Her words ring true for all time. 

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The story of the aftermath of St. Teresa's death is rather macabre. It is said that her body did not decompose, when exhumed several times. Each time more of her parts were severed and taken to various places. Scientists of the day studied her body for many years before what was left of her was put to rest in this tomb. I couldn't help but wonder how St. Teresa herself would feel about all this. 

While living, she felt that she was nothing but a terrible sinner and requested of Jesus to bring her suffering so that she would be exalted from the ways of being human. She was amazingly humble and never wished for her "gifts" to be venerated. She had frequent visions of God and mystical journeys. 

When examined, her heart supposedly contains a piercing that occurred in one of her most mystical experiences. Her heart is also said to bleed on occasion and expand sufficiently to break the container in which it is held. 

To read more about the Saint's history, especially after her death, you can scroll down in the article called "In the Footsteps of St. Teresa," under the section called "Incorrupt Remains."

Soon, it was time for us to move on and go to the Centro Teresiano Sanjuanista next, where we had first stopped. Admission here is only one Euro, so donate generously as well, if you are able, as it is a nice collection of artwork venerating both St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross.

Here are the first two pieces that come to your attention, below.

Farther along is a reproduction of the cell of St. John of the Cross. 

There is also a relic display of the Saint's index finger which you can view, which is not pictured. 

Another of my selections from the museum is the famous portrait you see below, that is a reproduction. I do not know where the origin lies.

Pictured next are the serene gardens. 

We ended our tour by entering the Church of St. John of the Cross which is connected to the convent through an inner hallway. It is a simple, but beautiful church, as I am sure he would have loved. 

We left the Iglesia de San Juan de la Cruz through the main entrance in the Plaza Santa Teresa. We continued on our tour of Alba de Tormes, by heading down the hill toward the River Tormes and the huge and grand 19th century, neo-Gothic Basilica de Santa Teresa. The church was built when it was declared that the church containing St. Teresa's tomb was of insufficient size to house the many pilgrims and worshipers wishing to celebrate her. 

The church was closed, so we could not enter, but we paused to admire the sculpture of the Saint at the top of the stairs. I must say, that after visiting the intimate chapel where she lies, I did not want to celebrate her life in a more grand fashion!

Down by the Río Tormes, the highway bridge crosses the river on the west side of town, shown below. This is the route we were going to take the next day, to continue our walking pilgrimage from Alba de Tormes to Salamanca, where it is easy to connect to the Via de la Plata from there. Please click here to see our onward journey and how the two cities are easily connected on the Camino Natural Vía de la Plata! 

We had one more sight that we wanted to squeeze into our day, and it required a short, steep climb back up the high hill of Alba de Tormes, to the Castillo-Palacio de los Duques de Alba.

Originally a fortress containing six towers, to protect the dukes and the people of Alba, only one now remains. The complex was excavated in 1991 and contains several museum rooms. 

But the best is the view from the top! Here I am in the late afternoon sunlight, enjoying it immensely! It was a lovely way to end the long pilgrimage day and contemplate the day to come. 

Reflections on Day Five of the Camino Teresiano, Part II

And thus ends our official and highly successful pilgrimage, on the Camino Teresiano from Ávila to Alba de Tormes. Despite the long day and the pain in my left knee that required me to hobble a bit up/down stairs, I would heartily say that this pilgrimage was worth it! 

As we reflect on St. Teresa and her earthly journey, our journey through life pales in comparison. Our pilgrimage in her footsteps, while not earth-shattering nor life-changing, was nonetheless enormously uplifting and soul-validating. We felt happy, content and complete with our own current spiritual journey through life in that moment and for days to come. 

Our ongoing challenge is to continue on our personal pilgrimage, where the outward, physical journey can allow for the inward, mystical journey, as St. Theresa directs. And maybe, just maybe, walking in her physical footsteps helped us to go deeper indeed, into our own interior castles. It sure felt that way! 

Salutation

May your own pilgrimage from Ávila to Alba de Tormes, from the cradle to the grave of St. Teresa of Jesus, take you ever nearer to your own Interior Castle, and that much closer to heaven, both here on earth and for your future home! Ultreia!

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