Catoira can be explored through several themes: the Torres de Oeste at the mouth of the Ulla, historic mills and routes through river landscapes. There are also archaeological traces and the Romaría Vikinga. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the options: a short riverside walk is different from a longer hiking route, and a stay during festival week calls for different dates than a trip focused on cultural heritage.

Towers, River Mouth and Romaría Vikinga

The two surviving towers of the Torres de Oeste belong to the pre-Romanesque building phase of the Castellum Honesti, which was rebuilt in the 9th century. The CACTO Interpretation Centre explores the history of the towers and their strategic location at the mouth of the Ulla. Architectural history and river landscapes come together here, without requiring the various sights to be combined into a single itinerary.

Catoira has celebrated the Romaría Vikinga since 1961. The festival commemorates the town’s role as guardian of the treasure of the Cathedral of Santiago and as a strategic defensive point against Viking invasions. It takes place in the first week of August; on Sunday morning, a Viking landing is reenacted at the Torres de Oeste. In the week before the festival, the programme includes an open-air theatre performance on the grounds of the towers, featuring around 200 residents of the municipality. The festival also includes a medieval market and tastings of mussels and local wine. As the specific programme may vary from year to year, check the event dates before your trip.

Mills, Granite and Views

Catoira has other traces of the past beyond its festival history. There are 45 watermills along the banks of the River Catoira. One is the tidal mill Muíño do Cura, also known as Muíño de Mareas or Muíño de Machón. It lies at the mouth of the River Catoira and is connected to the Ulla riverside path by a walking trail.

Lagoa de Pedras Miúdas formed in the basin of a former quarry and was designated a Local Natural Interest Area (ENIL) in 2008. Numerous prehistoric Bronze Age engravings are also preserved on granite rocks in Catoira. From the Miradoiro Ruta Xacobea on Avenida Mirador da Ría, the view extends across the mouth of the Ulla into the Ría de Arousa. From there, you can also see a large section of the only maritime Way of the Cross on the Ruta Xacobea do Mar de Arousa e Río Ulla.

Compare River Routes by Length and Landscape

The Paseo Fluvial do Ulla is about three kilometres long. It connects the river beach area with the Torres de Oeste, passes through wetlands and continues towards Valga. You can also walk a section of the Ruta Xacobea do Mar de Arousa e Ulla along it. A longer option is the 11-kilometre hiking route along the Río Catoira and the Rego de San Cibrán: it runs from the chapel of San Cibrán to the Ulla. Its landscape changes from wooded upper stretches to fertile valleys and then to riverside forests.

The Camino Natural of the ecological routes along the River Catoira is a different option. It consists of two routes, each about three kilometres long, along the rivers San Cibrán and Catoira. The paths pass through riverside woodland and by old mills, some of which are partly hidden by dense vegetation. Some sections may be impassable. Check the current trail conditions before setting out, and take this limitation into account when choosing your route.

Plan Your Stay and Hotel

If you are looking for hotels in Catoira, you can first decide whether the Romaría Vikinga or river routes and cultural heritage will be the focus of your stay. For a visit during the Romaría, the first week of August, Sunday morning and that year’s programme are important planning considerations. For hiking, the different route lengths and landscapes can help you choose; for the Camino Natural, also allow for sections that may be impassable.

Discover more destinations: Cerdedo, Barro, A Penela, Campo Lameiro, Agolada, Paxariñas, Vilanova De Arousa, Eidián

For the wider travel overview: Pontevedra.