The Camino Natural Vía Nova leads to Arnado; access to the village passes through an arch beneath the Pazo de Arnado, also known as Castillo de Torre Penela. The arrival and the building’s history come together here in a specific local setting. Check the conditions of this route before your trip.

Routes and Landscape

The Igrexa Parroquial de San Xoán, a parish church, lies on the Camino de Invierno, a pilgrimage route to Santiago; its church grounds also include the Cruceiro do Adro. The route connections are distinct: the Vía Nova leads to Arnado, while the parish church lies on the Camino de Invierno. This distinction can help you choose a route based on what you want to visit—the village entrance or a church on the pilgrimage route.

Another route starting from Arnado passes through Correxais and Fervenza, through areas with chestnut trees, cherry trees and vineyards. Vegetation and land use may change. At municipal level, Vilamartín de Valdeorras also lists the Ruta Da Santa Compaña as one of its hiking routes.

Building History and Architecture

The Pazo de Arnado, also known as Castillo de Torre Penela, is a late-19th-century building in the parish of San Clemente de Arnado. Pedro Sanjurjo Flórez had it built as a sign of his love for Pilar Argudín. After his death in 1920, construction remained unfinished.

The chapel of Nosa Señora dos Remedios and Casa de O Pazo are located in the same village centre. The chapel is a listed example of religious architecture; Casa de O Pazo is listed as civil architecture. The parish church and the cruceiro round out the focus on sacred buildings, while Casa de O Pazo provides a civil counterpart.

Winegrowing and the San Pedro Festival

Winegrowing is an important part of agriculture in Arnado. The municipality of Vilamartín de Valdeorras lies within the Denominación de Origen Valdeorras appellation area. To understand the distinction, consider the respective scales: winegrowing characterises agriculture in Arnado, while the appellation covers the municipality of Vilamartín de Valdeorras.

The celebrations in honour of San Pedro take place in Arnado in late July; cultural and leisure activities are also held in the municipality. If you are travelling for the festivities, late July is the relevant planning period. Check the specific dates for the year you wish to visit.

Getting There

A road runs from Vilamartín alongside the Sil to Arnado, crosses the river over a bridge, and then turns left towards the village. The river crossing and the subsequent turn are the key landmarks for navigating this approach. Road conditions and signage may change; check them before travelling.

Discover more destinations: O Barco De Valdeorras, Quinta, Vilariño, Pazos, Seixalbo, Cortegada, Parderrubias, A Veiga

For the wider travel overview: Ourense.