Discover Noia: Medieval Heritage, Shellfish and the Tambre Estuary

The Igrexa de Santa María A Nova in Noia was founded in 1327 by the Archbishop of Compostela, Berenguel de Landoira. The cemetery beside the church contains more than 500 tombstones dating from the 14th to the 19th century, while the Museo das Laudas is located inside the Igrexa. Santa María A Nova is classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural. The Igrexa de San Martiño de Noia is also classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural.

Other places: Boa, Redonda, Dor, Cabana De Bergantiños, Pontedeume, Prospes, Merelle, Vimianzo

Culture

The Noia Sea Museum is dedicated to activities and occupations connected with the sea and contains a collection of objects from the maritime world. The church in the San Francisco complex features an ogival Renaissance style and a Latin-cross floor plan. The 16th-century cloister of San Francisco preserves original basket-handle arches on the ground floor.

History

In connection with the development of Santiago, Noia became known as the port of the Apostle, or Portus Apostoli. Many boats carrying goods and passengers arrived at the port of Noia, with pilgrims travelling on to Santiago. The Casa do Concello contains a medieval pointed arch from the Hospital del Santo Espíritu de Afora, with engravings related to pilgrimage.

Nature

The Pedrachán watermill area on the Traba River includes more than twenty watermills near Noia’s old town. Its high ethnographic value is based on its washhouses, weirs, channels, paths and stairways. The Monte San Lois viewpoint has a recreational area with tables, benches and barbecue facilities and offers panoramic views of Noia and the Ría de Muros e Noia.

Testal Beach is 1.5 kilometres long, has fine sand and is characterised by dunes of high ecological value. Winding paths run along the banks of the Tambre River. At the Tambre power station site, an interpretation centre explains the importance of the lampreeiras weirs and lamprey fishing. The Tambre Estuary is part of the protected Natura 2000 network.

Food and Drink

The Misela shellfish bed is home to one of Galicia’s most significant cockle populations; clams are also farmed there. At the beginning of the shellfish season, visitors can watch shellfish gatherers and boats at work at the Misela shellfish bed before the cockles are auctioned at the fish market. Shellfish fishing in Noia includes gathering cockles both on foot and from boats.

The Noia Empanada Festival has been held since 1979 as part of the San Bartolomé festivities. The Noia Cockle Festival takes place in October and promotes the cockle as the city’s flagship gastronomic product. Cockles are the most important shellfish collected on Noia’s beaches and are a defining feature of the city’s cuisine. Noia’s wheat empanadas are turned over in the oven, similar to a Spanish omelette.

Events

The Feira Medieval de Noia takes place every year in mid-July over a weekend in the city’s historic centre. It includes a medieval market with numerous stalls offering local and Galician food and drink as well as handicrafts. The programme includes falconry displays, tournaments, street performances, live workshops and activities for children.

To the main travel overview: Coruña.