Atalaia

From the Arabic aṭ-ṭalâʿiya, “the watchtower, the lookout post” over the camino.

Azambuja

From the Arabic al-zanbuğa, “the wild olive” of the Tagus floodplain.

Castrojeriz

From the Latin Castrum Sigerici, “the fort of Sigeric”; a Roman fortress resettled by the Visigoth lord.

Estella

From the Latin stella, “star”; medieval hagiotoponym imposed in 1090. In Basque, Lizarra, “ash grove”.

Frómista

From the Latin frumentum, “wheat, grain”, + locative suffix -ista: “place of much wheat, granary”.

Hornillos del Camino

From the Castilian hornillos, plural diminutive of oven; for the rural ovens preserved in the village.

Hospital de Órbigo

Medieval Hospital for pilgrims + Órbigo, pre-Roman hydronym of the river crossed by its bridge.

Mansilla de las Mulas

From the Latin mansionella, diminutive of mansio, “inn”; where the mule trains rested.

Nájera

From the Arabic Naxara, probably “between rocks”, for the red cliff above the old town.

O Porriño

Galician diminutive of porro, “leek” (Latin porrum): “the little leek field” of the Louro valley.

Padrón

From the Latin petronem, “great stone”; the marker where tradition moored the Apostle's boat.

Pedra Furada

Pedra “stone” + furada “pierced”; a natural monolith with a hole, used as a milestone of the camino.

Ponferrada

From the Latin Pons Ferrata, “iron bridge”, for the iron beams that reinforced the Sil crossing for pilgrims.

Puente la Reina

For the Romanesque bridge attributed to Muniadona, wife of Sancho III. In Basque, Gares.

Rabaçal

From the Portuguese rabaça, “water cress”, + collective suffix -al: “place of cress”.

Roncesvalles

Disputed romance origin. In Basque, Orreaga, “place of junipers” —a literal description of the pass.

Santo Domingo de la Calzada

Hagiotoponym to Domingo García (1019—1109), Riojan hermit who built bridges and roads for pilgrims.

Zubiri

From the Basque zubi, “bridge”, + locative suffix -iri: “the bridge town” over the river Arga.