Monte Aloia was Galicia’s first natural park. Covering 746 hectares, it offers views of the Miño and Louro valleys. The coast also shapes the landscape of Pontevedra province: mountain scenery meets the Rías Baixas here, and viewpoints around the rías add to the views across the region. Exploring Pontevedra means encountering very different landscapes – and just as many traces of history.
Nature, Coast and Birdlife
Playa de A Lanzada offers more than two kilometres of fine white sand and is suitable for water sports. The Umia-O Grove intertidal complex, a wetland of ornithological interest, is also located at this beach. The coast and wetland represent not only two different types of landscape: Playa de A Lanzada also appeals to visitors interested in both the sea and birdlife.
Another connection between nature and history can be found at Monte Aloia. The Muralla Ciclópea consists of large stones laid without mortar. At 2,250 metres long, the wall encloses the upper plateau of Alto de San Xiao. As well as taking in the views, visitors can explore this striking archaeological site.
Buildings and Traces of History
The medieval castle of Soutomaior dates from the 12th century. Its fortified complex includes a double ring of walls, a tower and an adjoining palace. Hórreos shape the townscape of Combarro: there are more than sixty, thirty of them right by the sea. Combarro was declared a historic-artistic ensemble in 1972 and can be explored on foot. The number of hórreos and their location by the sea give the town’s protected history a vivid form.
Other sights reach further back in time. Castrolandín was a fortified settlement of the late Iron Age and was inhabited between the 4th and 1st centuries BC. The chapel of A Lanzada is a Romanesque building from the early 13th century. The Sarmiento Building of the Museo de Pontevedra houses a two-storey cloister and a stone staircase dating from 1722. These different dates help place the buildings and archaeological remains in their historical context, rather than seeing them as belonging to a single period.
Routes and an Unusual Look at Thermal Water
The Camino del Sudeste – Vía de la Plata is listed as a nine-day route covering a total of 212.3 kilometres, with nine recommended stages. It can be travelled on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. On the way to Santiago, the route passes through Dozón, Lalín, Silleda and A Estrada. The information on duration, distance and stages offers different points of reference for planning; the modes of travel also make clear that the route is not limited to just one way of travelling.
The public thermal spring of A Burga offers a different perspective. It was built in 1881, and its water emerges at around 50 °C from two lion heads. The year it was built, the water temperature and the stone outlets describe the place in a very different way from the Camino’s stage details: here, the focus is on a single architectural feature, while there it is on a longer route.
Festivals and Regional Flavours
The A Arribada festival in Baiona takes place every year and commemorates the arrival of the caravel Pinta in 1493. Baiona was the first place in Europe to receive news of the discovery of America. The festival has the status of International Tourist Interest; dates may vary from year to year, so it is advisable to check the event dates before your visit.
The Romería Vikinga de Catoira and A Rapa das bestas de Sabucedo are also designated festivals of International Tourist Interest in Pontevedra province. The Albariño Wine Festival in Cambados has the same status. Wine leads to another aspect of regional culture: the province is particularly well known for its seafood, served with Albariño, the wine typical of the region and the focus of the Rías Baixas Wine Route. Nature, architectural history, routes, festivals and food thus offer different ways to experience Pontevedra – choose the focus that will shape your trip most.
Discover more destinations: Souto, Monte Bouza, Bamio, Bueu, Cambados, Forcarei, O Grove, Porriño, Salcidos, O Rosal, A Guarda, Vilagarcia De Arousa, Vilaboa, Vigo, Silleda, Sanxenxo, Mondariz, Moaña, Meaño, A Estrada, Ponteareas, Tui, Caldas De Reis, As Neves, Valga, Agolada, Redondela, Cuntis, Marín, Vilanova De Arousa, Nigrán, Mos, Lalín, A Illa De Arousa, Rodeiro, Cangas, Soutomaior, Baiona, Outeiriño, Crecente, Ribadumia, Oia, Barro, A Cañiza, A Lama, Cerdedo, Gondomar, Campo Lameiro, Poio, Pontevedra, Ponte Caldelas, Pontecesures, Cotobade, Meis, Vilagarcía, Hervés, Vilar, Covelo, Fornelos, Soutelo, Vila De Cruces, Santiso, Duxame, Vilavella, O Freixo, O Meixoeiro, Ribadulla, Virxe Das Mareas, Catoira, Eidián, Aldán, Ramil, Salceda, Mondariz-Balneario, A Penela, Arbo, Camposancos, Cequeliños, Forxán, Coiron, Campelo, A Telleira, Paxariñas, Bandeira, Codeseda, Buezas, Nigoi, As Mariñas, Peinador, A Almuíña, Viascón, Senín, Anzo, A Xesteira, Alba, Figueiras, Picoto, Viladesuso, Donsión, Simes, A Aldea de Baixo, Terra de Celanova, San Bieito, Bon de Arriba, O Baixo Miño, Cores, Vinseiro, Ladrido, O Hío, Ardia, A Escardia, As Quintáns, Lantañón, A Torre, Raxó, Goián, Lantaño, Moscoso, O Morrazo, A Igrexa, Curantes, Barbudo, Costoia, Portela, Portomartiño, Carballal, Tabagón, Sieiro, Estacas, Carbia, As Madorras, Rebón (San Pedro)
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