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Wise Pilgrim APPEl Acebo is a beautiful mountain village strung along a single stone street, clinging to the hillside at about 1,150 m. Slate roofs, stone walls, and balconies overhanging the narrow road give it an alpine character that's quite different from the meseta villages behind you.
A memorial at the entrance honors a pilgrim cyclist who died on the steep descent from the Cruz de Ferro — a sobering reminder of how demanding this section can be.
Several albergues and bars serve the village. The Mesón El Acebo has a good reputation for home cooking. This makes a reasonable stopping point if the descent from the Cruz de Ferro has been hard on your legs.
El Acebo received a royal charter exempting its residents from taxes in exchange for maintaining the mountain path and assisting pilgrims in snow — a duty they took seriously, as the income from the exemption depended on the road staying open.
The descent continues steeply to Riego de Ambrós and then Molinaseca. The path is paved in sections but the gradient is relentless. Take your time.
