Castros in legendary landscapes

Castros in legendary landscapes

Pontevedra is a powerhouse in terms of archaeological heritage. Its forts by the sea and the remains of Roman settlements that are preserved take us back in time to learn about the origin of its cities.

The province of Pontevedra has set out to rescue from oblivion the rich historical and cultural heritage represented by its archaeological sites. And beyond the secrets that they treasure, the people of the castra chose for their settlements high and well positioned places that today turn them into exceptional viewpoints over the coast and the interior of this destination. These legendary landscapes encourage any visitor to delve into the origins of the towns of As Rías Baixas, from the ancient citanias to the later Roman settlements.

The Santa Trega Hillfort is one of the best preserved in Galicia, with aerial views over A Guarda and the Portuguese border. It is dated between the 1st century B.C. and 1st century A.D. and the first excavations were carried out by chance in 1913. Today you can visit two reconstructed houses and a museum. Without leaving O Baixo Miño, the route includes the Alto dos Cubos hill fort, in Tui, and the next stop is Vigo. The city has made a great effort in recent years to recover the settlement of O Castro and the Museo do Mar building integrates the remains of the Punta do Muíño do Vento site. It is worth visiting Salinae, with the remains of the old salt factory next to the estuary, before crossing the gate to the Roman villa of Toralla.

The best option is to go on to Cangas to climb the O Facho hill, where a settlement with unique views of theCíes islands and A Illa de Ons is preserved.

It is important not to forget the castro of A Subidá, in Marín, and that of Alobre, in Vilagarcía de Arousa. A visit to Castrolandín (Cuntis) is also a must.

The castro of Santa Trega is one of the best preserved in Galicia, with aerial views over A Guarda and the border with Portugal.

The castreños of As Rías Baixas left many villages abandoned after the arrival of the Romans, moving to new settlements on the coast or in valleys. In O Salnés you can walk around the sites of A Lanzada and Adro Vello, ending the route in Valga to discover the history of A Igrexa Vella.

Bridge between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic

The findings at the site of A Lanzada show that the province of Pontevedra occupied a strategic position in the commercial exchange between the peoples of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. The excavations disproved the cliché of an isolated land and proved fluid contacts with other cultures from the 6th century BC . The Rías Baixas formed part of the long-distance trade circuits controlled by the Carthaginians and, later, by the Gadirites.