Catoira: Torres de Oeste, Ulla Trails and Romaría Vikinga

In Catoira, the two surviving towers of the Torres de Oeste belong to the pre-Romanesque construction phase of the Castellum Honesti, rebuilt in the 9th century.

Other places at the same level: Vila De Cruces, Buezas, Rebón (San Pedro), A Telleira, A Xesteira, Oia, Moscoso, As Madorras.

Culture and history

CACTO is an interpretation centre dedicated to the history of the Torres de Oeste and their strategic location at the mouth of the Ulla.

Numerous prehistoric Bronze Age engravings have been preserved on granite rocks in Catoira.

At the mouth of the Catoira River lies the Muíño do Cura tidal mill, also known as Muíño de Mareas or Muíño de Machón; it is connected to the Ulla riverside path by a footpath.

There are 45 watermills along the banks of the Catoira River.

Nature and trails

Lagoa de Pedras Miúdas was formed in the basin of a former quarry and was designated an Espacio Natural de Interés Local (ENIL) in 2008.

The hiking route along the Río Catoira and the Rego de San Cibrán is 11 km long and runs from the San Cibrán chapel to the Ulla.

Along its course, the route leads from wooded upper sections through fertile valleys and along riverside forests.

The Paseo Fluvial do Ulla is an approximately three-kilometre-long footpath that connects the river beach area with the Torres de Oeste and continues through wetlands towards Valga.

The Paseo Fluvial do Ulla allows visitors to walk part of the Ruta Xacobea do Mar de Arousa e Ulla.

The Camino Natural of the Catoira River's ecological routes consists of two routes, each approximately three kilometres long, along the San Cibrán and Catoira rivers.

This Camino Natural passes through riverside forest and by old mills, some of them partly hidden by dense vegetation.

Festivals and traditions

Catoira has celebrated the Romaría Vikinga since 1961, a festival commemorating the town's role as guardian of Santiago Cathedral's treasure and as a strategic defence point against Viking invasions.

The Romaría Vikinga takes place in the first week of August; on Sunday morning, a Viking landing is re-enacted at the Torres de Oeste.

As part of the Romaría Vikinga, an open-air theatre performance takes place in the grounds of the Torres de Oeste during the week before the festival, involving around 200 local residents.

A medieval market, as well as tastings of mussels and local wine, are also part of the Romaría Vikinga.

Geographical setting

From the Miradoiro Ruta Xacobea on Avenida Mirador da Ría, visitors can see the mouth of the Ulla where it flows into the Ría de Arousa, as well as much of the only maritime route of the Ruta Xacobea do Mar de Arousa e Río Ulla.

To the higher-level travel overview: Pontevedra.