Todays journey takes Bro. William from Puenta La Reina to Estella, a distance of 21kms or 13 miles. In between he will pass the villages of Maneru, Cirauqui, Lorca and Villatuerta.

Maneru - a village linked with the Knights Templar and Order of St. John whose influence in this area was considerable in the Middle Ages.

The sleepy meandering streets lead to the cemetery via the street of the 'inevitable'! tulle Forzosa from where a view opens up of the next life or our next destination, Cirauqui.

We now start to pass through vineyards, interspersed with olive trees. The peaceful path winds its way up into Cirauqui.

Cirauqui (Zirauki) a medieval hill top village, beautifully preserved with narrow winding streets and houses bearing armorial crests and ornate balconies and a fine village square.

13th century Church (restored) of San Roman with multi-lobed doorway and Church of St. Catherine Santa Catalina, also dating from the 13th century.




We leave the village through an arch from the main square and out on to one of the best examples of Roman road on the cumino continuing over a single span Roman bridge to cross over the N-111 onto a dirt track.

The path now takes us gently downhill through open farmland running parallel to the new autopista before climbing steeply over a ridge in the hills to drop down sharply to a secondary road where we turn right to pass under modern aqueduct and cleft over the gloriously dilapidated medieval stone bridge that crosses the Salt river rio Sulado.

Villatuerta Puente - Over the bridge is the 14" century Church of the Assumption raised flagstone surround with views back over the route from Lorca. There are several bars, restaurant and a pension on the main road.

Estella (Lizarra) - provides reasonable facilities and yet is sufficiently compact to allow us to explore its wonderful historic buildings, museums, interesting churches and its varied restaurants and bars (perhaps a good place to take a day's rest).

200m past the albergue is the Plaza San Martin (graceful fountain).

Immediately adjoining the tourist office is the graceful 12th century Palace of the Kings of Navarre Palacio de los Reyes de Navarra - now a museum and art gallery.



On the well-preserved facade of this Romanesque building are sculptured capitals portraying the legendary battle between Roldan and the giant Ferragut - familiar all along the route.

Directly opposite are the steps to the Church of San Pedro de la Rua with its beautiful 12th century Cloister, two sides of which are missing, evidence of its troubled past. It is here that the Kings of Navarre took their oaths.

If walk through suburban Estella, climbing uphill to Ayegui, then turn left just before a playground to head towards the Monasterio de Irache, we reach the Fuente del Vino, a tap of free wine provided by the Bodegas de Irache to fortify thirsty pilgrims on the way to Santiago.

Next door, the imposing, twelfth-century Monasterio de Irache contains a simple Romanesque church and Plateresque cloister; its pilgrims' hospital was founded in 1050, making it older than the hospitals at Estella and Roncesvalles.

Bro. Williams' thoughts of today - walking the Camino involves waiting to enter the hostels and time to visit the local town or village to explore.