Taking as a base the various routes of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela we advise the visitor to do some routes that enable them to get to know a large part of the south of the A Coruña province and the areas around the Hotel.
In sections THE SURROUNDINGS and MONUMENTAL NOIA you will find a description of the most interesting towns and places for the visitor.
MUROS - NOIA - BRIÓN - SANTIAGO
In the Middle Ages the ports of Muros and Noia received traders, adventurers, pilgrims who, wishing to soon reach the tomb of the apostle after long voyages, used both ports to rest in their towns before setting off for Santiago.
Apart from the recommended spots in the Noia area (as described in THE SURROUNDINGS), we suggest some particularly interesting visits in Brión where one should stop at the megalithic remains of Rañalonga and the Lamiño and Lupario castros.
RIBEIRA - SANTIAGO (via Noia)
Going from Ribeira we pass through the towns Porto do Son, Lousame, Noia, Brión and Ames on our way to to Santiago.
Apart from the recommended spots in the Noia area (as described in THE SURROUNDINGS), we suggest some particularly interesting visits in:
RIBEIRA: Prehistoric remains like the Axeitos dolmen, the natural parks As Dunas de Corrubedo and Lagoa do Carregal, the fishing pier in Aguiño, the A Curota view point and the old town of Ribeira itself.
BRIÓN: Megalithic remains of Rañalonga and Lamiño and Lupario castros.
RIBEIRA - SANTIAGO (via Padrón)
Going from Ribeira we pass through the towns A Pobra, Boiro, Rianxo, Dodro, Padrón, Teo on our way to Santiago.
A POBRA: A Curota viewpoint over the Galician rías, the church of Santiago in Deán, the Casa Grande in Aguiar, the Valle Inclán museum, the tower-palace in A Xunqueira. Particularly recommendable are the fiestas, such as the procession of the shroud in September and the "rapa das bestas".
BOIRO: Views from mount Iroite, Cubelo waterfalls, Neixón castro, Romanic churches like Abanqueiro or Lampón and the pazos Agüeiros and Torres de Goiáns.
RIANXO: Santa Columba church, Viturro pazo and the numerous cave engravings throughout the area —those representing hunting scenes are particularly valued by the experts.
DODRO: Petrogliphs in Bouza de Abadín, Traxeito castro, Hermida pazo, Lestrove pazo… PADRÓN: Rosalía de Castro's Museum House, Camilo José Cela's Museum House, town setting of Iria Flavia, House of the Canons, Roman alter (the pedrón)… Padrón was and will be closely linked to Santiago and the tradition of Saint James, as this was how the remains of the Saint James the Apostle entered Galicia to be buried in Compostela.
TEO: Also closely linked to the legends of the movement of the apostle, there are many prehistoric settlements, castros like the one in Francos, and petrogliphs; mount Montouto offers impressive views…
FROM THE RÍA DE AROUSA TO FINISTERRE
If we start out from Rianxo (on the Ría de Arousa, the birthplace of illustrious pro-Galician academics and philosophers like CASTELAO), the first place that has to be visited is the Neixón castro, in Boiro. If you climb the nearby Curota you will get unbeatable views of the Ría de Arousa. Following the coast we can admire the old port in Aguiño, the Axeitos dolmen, the dunes and the lighthouse in Corrubedo, Porto do Son and Baroña castro. Further north is Noia, with its gothic church of San Martín, the cemetery in Santa María A Nova... and the beautiful porches of its casonas. In Serra de Outes the sanctuary of San Ourente de Entíns is a must. We reach Muros, surprising with its narrow streets, arcades and taverns, a good place to gather up strength and continue towards Carnota with its hórreos and long beaches. On the final straight: Ézaro, Cee, Corcubión and Finisterre, where we find the church of Santa María, the Santo Cristo of "Barba Dourada", the Facho mount with its "pedras santas" or holy stones and the hermitage of San Guillermo
A WALK THROUGH THE CAPITALS
Santiago de Compostela
As the tradition will have it, we must visit the cathedral, attend the pilgrim’s mass in order to see the Botafumeiro and take a gentle walk through the squares surrounding this unique monument. The work on the basilica, on Roman remains, was started in the 11th century: Romanic, Gothic styles were incorporated as the construction progressed. Essential stops are kneeling before the sarcophagus containing the remains of the apostle, holding the saint's statue from behind, knocking one's againts the santo dos croques and of course contemplating the Pórtico de la Gloria. The squares and the streets of the old city also deserve to be studied: the Obradoiro, with its Hostal dos Reis Católicos and the façade of the Cathedral; Platerías, the street… all of the streets. Just the city would need a whole book to guide the visitor. Our advice: wander aimlessly, it’s worth it!
A Coruña
It is crowned by the Roman lighthouse Torre de Hércules. This is a city with hundreds of places to walk around: the Paseo Marítimo, María Pita square, the famous Galerías, Calle Real... and hundreds of places to visit: the Archaeology Museum at the San Antón castle, the Domus Museum, the Finisterrae Aquarium...
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