Discover Pontevedra: Old Town, Culture and Waterside Paths

Culture and History

Pontevedra’s old town was protected as a Historic-Artistic Site on 23 February 1951. The Santuario de la Virgen Peregrina in Pontevedra is a sanctuary dating from the late 18th century. Its floor plan is shaped like a scallop shell. The Santuario de la Virgen Peregrina is associated with the Camino Portugués a Santiago. The Ruínas de Santo Domingo preserve the remains of a Dominican church and Dominican monastery from the 14th and 15th centuries. The permanent exhibitions at the Museo de Pontevedra display archaeological collections from prehistory and antiquity, Sargadelos faience, ceramics from Pontecesures, as well as Spanish contemporary and Asian-Oriental art. The museum therefore ranges from early archaeological collections and regional ceramics to art from Spain and Asia. Together with the sanctuary and the preserved monastery remains, different periods and cultural connections stand side by side within the city area.

Market and Festival

The Feira Franca takes place every year on the first weekend of September in Pontevedra’s monumental area. It includes a medieval tournament as well as falconry, archery and fencing demonstrations. At the Mercado de Abastos in Pontevedra, visitors can buy market produce and have it prepared at one of the venues in the Gastroteca. The Mercado de Abastos offers activities, workshops and small concerts in the Gastroteca all year round, especially at weekends. This place therefore combines shopping for market produce with a Gastroteca where it can be prepared and with a year-round programme of events. The Feira Franca, by contrast, takes place annually on the first weekend of September and adds historical demonstrations.

Nature and Paths

The Illa das Esculturas is designated as a Site of Community Importance and forms part of the Natura 2000 network. The Xunqueira de Alba is a wetland covering around 67 hectares. This wetland was designated a Site of Local Natural Interest in 2012. The natural section of the Senda dos Gafos runs for 4.3 kilometres along the river to the location of Leira Longa and is protected by the riverside woodland. Route 16, Gafos completo, runs from Leira Longa via Estacións and Campolongo to Corvaceiras and is 6.3 kilometres long. The Senda do Lérez follows the upper course of the Lérez River from approximately the river beach or Ponte das Palabras in the direction of Bora. Route 3, Senda do Lérez, runs from Palabras via Balneario and Bombeo and across the Bora dam, and is 4.2 kilometres long. The two references to the Gafos therefore name both a natural stretch of river beneath the riverside woodland and a longer route with several named stops. On the Lérez, the upper river course is described with the approximate starting point and the route in the direction of Bora; Route 3 runs via Palabras, Balneario and Bombeo and across the Bora dam.

Getting Around Pontevedra

Pontevedra’s railway and bus stations are located in separate buildings, but they are in the same urban area and connected by pedestrian paths.

More Destinations

The directly assigned destinations include Campañó.

To the overarching travel overview: Pontevedra.

More Travel Destinations

More places under the same destination:

Mondariz-Balneario, Baiona, Oia, Vigo, As Madorras, Portela, Covelo.