Discover Bandeira: Festival Culture, Waterfall and Nature Trail

Culture

The Festa da Empanada of Bandeira (Silleda) was awarded the title “Festival of National Tourist Interest” by a resolution dated September 3, 2024. The Festa da Empanada de Bandeira has been celebrated since 1974; it takes place on the third Saturday in August. The festival date is therefore tied to a fixed Saturday in August. If you mark this festival day in your calendar, an empanada route is also part of the Festa. The Esmorga Folk Festival in A Bandeira was founded in 1989 by a group of local young people who were enthusiastic about traditional music. Its origins are therefore closely connected with the interest of young people from A Bandeira in traditional music. A traditional dance festival organized by the Xirandola cultural association presents the work carried out throughout the year to preserve music, dance and traditional dress. These three elements are showcased together: traditional music, dance and traditional dress. For a market day, you can mark the 14th or the 29th of each month in your calendar; markets take place on both of these dates. The two recurring market days are therefore the 14th and the 29th of every month.

Nature

Those wishing to head to the Toxa Waterfall should take the turnoff from A Bandeira via the PO-204 towards A Merza. The Toxa River Waterfall is located near Bandeira. It is 25 metres high, and hiking trails connect it with the surroundings of Carboeiro Monastery. The nature trail from the Toxa Waterfall to Carboeiro Monastery begins at A Bandeira and is approximately 6 km long. The stated distance thus describes a connection between the starting point at A Bandeira, the Toxa Waterfall and Carboeiro Monastery. The approximate length of 6 km is one of the directly stated features of this nature trail. Because of the high importance of its preserved natural communities, the area of this nature trail is included in the European Natura 2000 project. It belongs to the Sistema fluvial Ulla-Deza site of community importance. The inclusion in Natura 2000 and the affiliation with the Sistema fluvial Ulla-Deza refer to the section of the trail between the waterfall and the monastery.

History

Manduas is home to a parish church built in the 1930s. It preserves the Romanesque portal of its predecessor church. Thus, this building combines the construction of the present-day church in the 1930s with the older Romanesque portal of the predecessor church. In the area of Manduas, Casa da Viña has a coat of arms bearing the arms of the Gil, Taboada and Luaces families, as well as a crowned lion of the Valenzuela family. Casa da Viña also includes a chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony. The coat of arms therefore depicts several family arms, along with the crowned lion of the Valenzuela family; the chapel is dedicated to Saint Anthony.

Further Places

Other directly linked destinations are Redondela, Portomartiño, Figueiras, A Cañiza, Paxariñas, Vigo, Lantañón and Duxame.

For the higher-level travel overview: Pontevedra.