Escapada - Interior norte - Detalle escapada - Turismo Rias Baixas

Start your day in the town of A Estrada strolling around the manor house Pazo de Oca, also known as the Galician Versailles. Its gardens are a botanical paradise where camellias bloom in winter surrounded by other species like oaks, limes, chestnut, walnut and birch trees. Its ponds are symbol of virtue and vanity.

Your next stop is the town of Vila de Cruces. Lying on the banks of the Ulla River, you can visit the church of the old monastery of San Salvador de Camanzo. The church and some remains of the chapterhouse are the only constructions that have been preserved. This religious building was founded in the first half of the 10th century by the Count and Countess of Deza, Gonzalo de Betote and his wife, Dona Tareixa.

The best way to recharge your batteries and continue your trip is to enjoy the local cuisine of the province of Pontevedra. First, you can visit the winery Castro Brey and taste a good wine under the Designation of Origin Rías Baixas, followed by an exquisite dish of galo de curral (free range chicken) at one of the local restaurants.

In the afternoon, a magical path around the town of Silleda is waiting for us. The route starts and finishes at the Monastery of Carboeiro, a gem of the Romanesque style surrounded by nature. The route, being 15 kilometres long and lasting about 3.5 hours, runs through leafy woods, along rivers, villages and the stunning cascade of the Toxa River, the largest in Galicia.

It is time to wake up! The Fraga de Catasós, in Lalín, is waiting for us. Start your day walking through an indigenous wood listed as Natural Monument of Galicia. This landscape boasts centenary oak trees and chestnuts, of which some are 30 metres tall, considered the tallest in Europe. An idyllic spot perfect to get some fresh air.

The Town Hall of Lalín, by the architects Tuñón and Mansilla, is one of the most important examples of the contemporary architecture in As Rías Baixas. The building is astonishing, and has an archaeology museum where you can learn more about the castros (pre-Roman hillfort settlements) of the region: their culture, legends and cuisine.

In Lalín, at the Casa do Patrón we can admire one of the most complete ethnographic collections of the region of Galicia. There, you can get to know the old schools, local customs and traditional trades, and you will even have the opportunity to visit a typical local tavern. This restaurant offers typical dishes elaborated with high quality products from the local orchard and livestock.

After a delicious meal, we head to Pazo de Liñares, where we can observe its 17th-century architecture in the Baroque style and its great balcony. The Galician writer Emilia Pardo Bazán used to spend long periods in this pazo. It houses the Galician Museum of the Marionette, including more than 300 pieces.

To round off the trip, we head to the Brañas de Xestoso, a wetland area of peat bogs in the middle of the hill between the towns of A Estrada and Silleda, perfect for hiking. In this natural landscape, there is a seasonal lagoon, the Lagoa Sacra de Olives, which is also a perfect habitat for bird watching.