A Mezquita: Castro Remains, Mountain Landscapes and Festa dos Reis

A Touza in A Mezquita is a site containing Castro, or Celtic, settlement remains.

Geographical Location

Penedo dos Tres Reinos lies on the border between the parish of Moimenta in the municipality of Vinhais in Portugal, the municipality of A Mezquita in the province of Ourense in Galicia, and the municipality of Hermisende in the province of Zamora in Castile and León. Pena Maseira can be reached via the A-55 or the N-525, taking an exit towards A Mezquita and then continuing along the provincial road OU-311.

Culture

Inside the Igrexa de San Martiño are an altarpiece by the sculptor José A. Ferreiro Suárez, the tombs of its founders and their heraldic stonework. The church dates from 1712, is the work of Simón de Monasterio and is built in the Baroque style.

The Pazo da Casa de Láncara, also known as Pazo dos Cardóniga, stands opposite the Igrexa de San Martiño and dates from the late 15th century, more precisely from 1480. Its façade features a doorway with a round arch and ball decoration, which also bears the year 1480.

The façade of the Pazo da Mezquita is completely covered with masons’ marks, which most probably came from a nearby medieval tower. It also features a round arch decorated with an alfiz.

Nature

Portela da Canda is a 1,262-metre-high mountain pass traditionally used by pilgrims. Its harsh climate limits tree growth; low vegetation dominates along the route, while isolated pine trees grow in the hollows.

Alto da Canda forms a mountain barrier more than 1,000 metres high between Ourense and Zamora and belongs to the eastern mountain ranges of Galicia. Due to erosion caused by glacial processes, its peaks have no pronounced points but instead appear rounded.

The higher-altitude terrain of Pena Maseira is characterised by scrubland and is home to stable populations of wolves and deer. In Souto da Ribeira in A Mezquita stands the Castiñeiro da Ribeira, a notable chestnut tree estimated to be 500 years old; it is 24.9 metres high and has a basal trunk circumference of 11.3 metres.

Routes and Traditions

The Ruta da Pana runs through the centre of A Mezquita and joins the Ruta da Prata near the chapel of Nuestra Señora del Loreto in O Pereiro. Portuguese pilgrims continue to use the Ruta da Pana to connect to the Vía da Prata.

The Festa dos Reis in A Mezquita is a tradition more than 200 years old that was interrupted during the Spanish Civil War and the COVID-19 pandemic. During the Aguinaldo procession, participants go from house to house; the Rei and the Virrei ride horses and carry decorated Ramas with pastries, dried fruit and fresh fruit.

The Zamarreiro is a traditional figure from A Mezquita who walks through the streets on the second day of the Festa dos Reis and asks for the traditional Aguinaldo at people’s homes.

Further Discoveries

Cova da Moura is a cave in the hamlet of A Esculqueira associated with several legends.

More Destinations

Other destinations at this level: Cenlle, Sadurnín, Larouco, Verín, Os Peares, Abelleira, Vilar De Barrio and O Irixo.

To the higher-level travel overview: Ourense.