Melide, Spain

Melide, Spain

Melide Spain

The history of this village, founded in the 10th century, is deeply linked to the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, as it is the place where two separate routes of the Camino de Santiago—the French Way and the Camino Primitivo—come together. In 1320, Melide obtained from the Archbishop of Santiago, Berenguel de Landoira, the privilege of building a castle, fortifying the village, and levying taxes. In 1467, the “irmandiños” rose up against Archbishop Alonso II Fonseca and began a series of conflicts against his power. During this uprising, the village walls and the castle were destroyed. Afterward, the Catholic Monarchs banned the construction of any fortress in the village. Over the last few centuries, like many inland villages in Galicia, Melide has experienced large waves of emigration: first to Cuba and Argentina until the 1950s, and later to Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and other Spanish cities such as Barcelona, Bilbao, and A Coruña. Today, its economy is based on agriculture, meat processing, and, more recently, tourism.
Recommended airport
Santiago (SCQ)
Nearby destinations
  • Santiago de Compostela a 43.37 km
  • Lugo a 38.74 km
  • Betanzos a 43.58 km