08.EXPERIENCE THE REGION OF PONTEVEDRA
AN ARTISTIC TREASURE
AN ARTISTIC TREASURE
Stroll around the town of Pontevedra and be immersed in its art and history. The streets and squares are adorned with century-old granite, with medieval manor houses and churches that embellish the town. Visit its interesting museums and explore its surroundings, discover pazos and monasteries and follow the traces of petroglyphs in natural landscapes of great beauty.
Discover the region of Pontevedra, an artistic treasure that comprises the towns of Pontevedra, Campo Lameiro, Barro, Poio, Vilaboa, Ponte Caldelas and A Lama. Pontevedra is full of art in every corner. The squares and streets of the old town remind us of a medieval past, in which the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela was a very important meeting point. The Provincial Museum of Pontevedra houses archaeological, artistic and ethnographic collections of great value and invites us on a journey through the history of the province from Prehistory until the present time.
The city of Pontevedra boasts even more treasures, such as the remains of the ancient archiepiscopal towers, the monastery of San Salvador de Lérez or the sumptuous manor house Pazo de Lourizán. The region also gathers an important archaeological heritage, such as the groups of rock carvings - petroglyphs - from the Bronze Age that can be admired in Campo Lameiro, Tourón or A Caeira. The coastal inlet Ría de Pontevedra, with towns such as Poio or the parishes of Combarro or Samieira, is home to an interesting culinary offer and boasts a large number of interesting natural and cultural spots. Its streets and squares, as well as the gardens of the pazos, castles and monasteries, are perfect places to enjoy the beauty of camellias and other flowers.
- 1 - A Lama
- 2 - Ponte Caldelas
- 3 - Vilaboa
- 4 - Pontevedra
- 5 - Poio
- 6 - Barro
- 7 - Campo Lameiro
MUSEUMS
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Founded in 1927, it is the most important museum in the province of Pontevedra and among the most important in Spain. The museum keeps 16,000 valuable pieces of diverse origin, ranging from Prehistory up to the 20th century, as well as ethnographic collections and naval elements. A comprehensive journey through the history and culture of the province.
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Founded in 1927, it is the most important museum in the province of Pontevedra and among the most important in Spain. The museum keeps 16,000 valuable pieces of diverse origin, ranging from Prehistory up to the 20th century, as well as ethnographic collections and naval elements. A comprehensive journey through the history and culture of the province.
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Founded in 1927, it is the most important museum in the province of Pontevedra and among the most important in Spain. The museum keeps 16,000 valuable pieces of diverse origin, ranging from Prehistory up to the 20th century, as well as ethnographic collections and naval elements. A comprehensive journey through the history and culture of the province.
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Founded in 1927, it is the most important museum in the province of Pontevedra and among the most important in Spain. The museum keeps 16,000 valuable pieces of diverse origin, ranging from Prehistory up to the 20th century, as well as ethnographic collections and naval elements. A comprehensive journey through the history and culture of the province.
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Founded in 1927, it is the most important museum in the province of Pontevedra and among the most important in Spain. The museum keeps 16,000 valuable pieces of diverse origin, ranging from Prehistory up to the 20th century, as well as ethnographic collections and naval elements. A comprehensive journey through the history and culture of the province.
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Founded in 1927, it is the most important museum in the province of Pontevedra and among the most important in Spain. The museum keeps 16,000 valuable pieces of diverse origin, ranging from Prehistory up to the 20th century, as well as ethnographic collections and naval elements. A comprehensive journey through the history and culture of the province.
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This interpretation centre is located underground, where the defensive moat of the medieval manor-fortress of the Archiepiscopal Towers was found. During your visit, you can discover the scarp and counterscarp of the fortress, as well as the pillars of a drawbridge. The archaeological excavations recovered 24 stone balls that were used as catapult projectiles.
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This house, known as A Casa da Cruz, is situated in front of a shipyard that is said to be where the Santa María, also known as ‘The Galician’, was built; it was one of the ships that set sail to the Indies in 1492. The museum keeps some documents that proved that a family of sailors with the Columbus surname lived in this house. Further proof is an inscription on a cruceiro (stone cross) at the foot of the door that reads ‘Juan Colón R 1490’.
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Area with several groups of petroglyphs - rock carvings - with a centre that shows the importance of this valuable archaeological legacy and provides valuable information so as you can make the most of your visit.
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The 17th-century church, with classicist and Baroque influences, stands out. It houses an 18th-century altarpiece and the tomb of Saint Trahamunda, greatly venerated in the town of Poio. A visit to the museum allows you to admire the old monks' refectory and a collection of paintings and miniature books. In the gardens, there is the largest hórreo (typical Galician granary house) in Galicia, built in the 18th century.
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A rock art archaeological park with trails that run through one of the most important groups of petroglyphs - rock carvings - in Galicia, with geometric and natural motifs. The interpretation centre reveals the enigmas of these symbolic stone motifs. Outside, you can admire replicas of huts, storage structures or animal fences.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
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This area contains a group of petroglyphs, open-air rock carvings that can be admired from a walkway. The carvings portray cup marks, connected circles, geometric motifs and zoomorphic figures.
CULINARY MOMENTS
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A gastronomic festival held in May, where you can taste stewed pork knuckle portions with baked potatoes, carrots, peas and mushrooms.
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A Festival of Tourist Interest in Galicia that is held in May. There is also an angling competition on the Verdugo River. In this festival, the trout can be tasted in a variety of ways.
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Festival of Tourist Interest in Galicia that is held in March and that pays tribute to the caldo (typical Galician broth) prepared in the village of Mourente. The knights and ladies of the Orde do Caldo are appointed and there are open-air musical performances.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
- Mills of A Barosa
Located by the cascade of the Barosa River. It consists of 17 hydraulic mills built on a steep slope. In the past, the flour obtained in these mills was sent to the Monastery of San Martiño Pinario, in the town of Santiago de Compostela. Today, two restored mills have been remodelled and turned into restaurants, where you can enjoy good food while enjoying a stunning landscape.
[+] INFO - Historical and artistic site of Combarro
Built on granite and very close to the sea, it is the essence of traditional architecture and town planning. It boasts winding streets, hórreos (typical Galician granary house), cruceiros (stone crosses) and seaside houses.
[+] INFO - Historical and artistic site of Pontevedra
It is one of the best-preserved historic and artistic sites in Spain. It boasts streets with arcades leading to squares of great charm. If you stroll around the streets you can discover old manor houses, the convent of Santo Domingo or the Basilica of Santa María A Maior, several convent churches and the Sanctuary of A Peregrina (1778), featuring a floor plan in the shape of a scallop shell.
[+] INFO - Finca de Lourizán
A 15th-century estate that would later become a residence built in the romantic style with large gardens. Eugenio Montero Ríos, President of the Spanish Government in 1905, lived there. It has a modernist style greenhouse, several fountains, a large hórreo (typical Galician granary house), a water mill and a winepress.
[+] INFO [+] INFO - Monastery of San Salvador de Lérez
Benedictine monastery founded in the 10th century, although it has been enlarged and remodelled several times throughout its history. The staircase, the courtyard and part of the cloister have been the only old elements that have been preserved. The Baroque façade of the church stands out.
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NATURAL SPOTS
- Illa das Esculturas (Pontevedra)
Near the town centre of Pontevedra and by the Lérez River is an island where nature coexists with sculptures, mainly made of granite, by twelve internationally renowned artists.
[+] INFO - Salinas do Ulló (Vilaboa)
The salt mines of Ulló, in the neighbourhood of Paredes, are also worth a visit. They were created by the Jesuits in the 17th century. Today, these marshes have a great diversity of flora and fauna, and pleasant trails. The remains of the salt mine farm, where the workers and owners used to stay, have been preserved.
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