An 18th-century farmhouse where mother and son welcome pilgrims as family, and where Spanish Steps has returned year after year.
The first time Spanish Steps brought a group to Casa Roan more than a decade ago, we felt less like guests and more like part of a home. Tucked into the Galician hills along the last stretch of the French Way, this 18th-century farmhouse quickly became a place our pilgrims remembered, not only for its authentic character and rustic elegance, but for the warmth of Pilar and her family. In those early years, it was Pilar who welcomed us with her care; today she continues to carry that spirit alongside her son Manuel.
Casa Roan has since become one of the most loved stops on our Camino Way 100K tours, a house woven into our story of walking through Galicia. Its own story stretches back more than 260 years, its thick stone walls having sheltered generations of Manuel’s family. Once a farmhouse devoted to agriculture and livestock, today it stands as one of the Camino’s most cherished hidden stops.
“When my parents began restoring the house, I was only eight,” Manuel recalls. “Too young to lift stones, but old enough to remember the dust and the sound of hammers.” Years later, he joined the work himself, helping with an expansion project that lasted about three years and was completed in 2019. Since opening as a rural hotel in 2008, Casa Roan has been shaped by patience, work, and the dedication of a family who turned their home into a refuge for travelers.
Pilar, Manuel’s mother, runs the kitchen, filling the house with the smell of caldo gallego and other traditional dishes. Many of the meals come straight from their garden, and pilgrims still remember the homemade chorizo long after their Camino has ended. Manuel handles the reception and dining room, moving easily between greeting guests, pouring wine, and tending to the animals outside.
The rhythm of the house is simple, guided by food, hospitality, and the steady flow of pilgrims who pass through the door. Guests often say Casa Roan feels like visiting old friends. For Manuel, the best part of life on the Camino is the people. “Pilgrims come from every corner of the world, and you end up learning something new every day, a word, a story, a different way of looking at life.” When he isn’t welcoming guests, he likes to travel, play sports, and spend time with the animals at home.
Talking with Manuel, it’s clear Casa Roan is more than a guesthouse, it’s a way of life rooted in Galician tradition, good food, and the Camino itself. For us too, it has become a home on the Camino, a place we return to again and again. If you pass through Galicia, be sure to stop and greet Pilar and Manuel from Spanish Steps.
Manuel, who grew up at Casa Roan, now welcomes pilgrims.
Pilar’s cooking: flavors of Galicia.
Casa Roan’s fireplace: warmth and rest after a long day on the Camino.
Evenings : rustic beams, hearty food, and the company of pilgrims.
At Casa Roan, welcome begins at the door.