Cee: Way of St. James, Beaches and Cultural Heritage

For hikers continuing towards medieval Finisterrae after visiting the Apostle in Santiago, Cee is an obligatory stop on the way to the sanctuaries of Fisterra and Muxía. The Fisterra-Muxía Way of St. James passes through Cee.

Culture and History

In 1994, the Xunta de Galicia declared Castillo del Príncipe an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC); it is part of Galicia’s cultural heritage. Castillo del Príncipe stands on a small rocky coastal promontory in Santiago de Ameixenda. The engineer Llovet designed it in 1740; in 1751, it was completed under the rule of Carlos IV by the Frenchman Carlos Lemaur. Pazo Cotón dates from the 18th century and is designed in the Baroque style. Its balconies and balustrade are inspired by the Baroque style of Compostela. Iglesia de Toba is a Romanesque church from the 12th century. Iglesia de Cee preserves remains of Gothic architecture from the 15th century in its main chapel.

The Fernando Blanco de Lema collection is housed in the former Escola das Nenas in the centre of Cee. The Instituto Fernando Blanco de Lema was built between 2 August 1880 and 6 May 1884 at the foot of Monte de la Armada. Its grounds include a botanical garden and a monument honouring Fernando Blanco de Lema, inaugurated on 13 October 1973. The present-day Santuario Nuestra Señora de la Xunqueira was built in the 19th and 20th centuries on the site of the former church. Many of the original structures of the Caneliñas whaling processing plant from its first phase and from the IBSA period have survived to this day. The Caneliñas whaling processing plant was the largest on the Iberian Peninsula, the longest-lasting in Spain and the last of its kind in Europe to cease operations. The base of the cross bears a Roman inscription.

Pilgrimage Routes

Every Saturday at 11:00 a.m., Cee offers a free historical tour; registration is available through the tourist office or by calling 881 98 21 46. The Cee tourist service provides pilgrim credentials, maps and a stamp for the onward journey to Fisterra and Muxía. On the section from Santiago to Fisterra, Monte de la Armada is the first place where pilgrims can see the sea.

Coast and Landscape

From the Mirador de Gures, you can see Fisterra, Ézaro Bay, Monte Pindo, the Lobeiras Islands and the Ría de Cee y Corcubión. The Mirador de Gures has a fountain as well as tables and benches for visitors. The viewpoint can be reached from the AC-550 Cee-Ribeira road via the turn-off towards Caneliñas and, at the junction, by taking the left-hand turn. The lift and the upper floors of the Casa de la Cultura of the Ayuntamiento de Cee offer views of the Ría de Cee y Corcubión.

Gures Beach is sheltered from the wind. There is a campsite near Estorde Beach. Lires Beach is a wide sandy beach divided into two sections by the mouth of the Río Castro. The town beach, located within the municipality of Cee, is approximately 185 metres long and 35 metres wide, surrounded by green spaces and featuring a promenade with a cycle path.

Market

The Sunday market in Cee offers cured meats, bread, fruit, vegetables, fish and seafood; the market hall is also open on this day. The Molinos de Toba are an ethnographic complex consisting of several watermills on the Río das Laxes, also known as the Río de Toba. The complex has fireplaces and stone tables for picnics.

To the main travel overview: Coruña.