Discover Portonovo: Coast, Culture and Holiday Apartment

Portonovo has long had a maritime character linked to fishing. Local specialties include fish from the estuary and seafood.

Culture

In Portonovo’s historic centre stands the Capilla de Santa Catalina, a small, simple rectangular chapel with a single nave. It is dedicated to Saint Catherine, the patron saint of Portonovo, whom sailors hold in great reverence.

The sculpture «A Peixeira» is dedicated to the women who sell at the food market the goods their husbands bring back from the sea. From there, you can enjoy a panorama of the Ría de Pontevedra and the small Playa de Caneliñas. Here, fishing appears in a chapel, a sculpture and the explicitly mentioned activities connected with the market and the sea.

The connection between the estuary, seafood and fishing shapes different aspects of the town. It is reflected in the specialties mentioned, as well as in the women at the food market whose husbands bring the goods from the sea. The chapel also recalls the sailors’ reverence for Saint Catherine. Culinary, social and religious references therefore stand side by side, while the port, net-making and the auction provide further maritime details of the town.

Cuisine

Local specialties in Portonovo include fish from the estuary and seafood. The town’s maritime character has long been linked to fishing.

Nature

Playa de Baltar is located at the entrance to Portonovo. A wooden boardwalk runs parallel to the beach through the dune area, so in addition to its location at the town entrance, the beach also features this boardwalk through the dunes.

Playa de Baltar has eight access points, as well as numerous parking spaces along the road and by the Baltar football pitch.

The Sendero azul Sanxenxo–Portonovo runs via Playa de Baltar. Those planning to walk this route will find the beach as an explicitly named section of the path between Sanxenxo and Portonovo.

Playa de Caneliñas is located in the centre of Portonovo, a location detail you can take directly into account when making your own plans. The Mirador de Caneliñas is next to Playa de Caneliñas in Portonovo.

The Mirador de Caneliñas offers views of the Ría de Pontevedra and the port of Portonovo. The viewpoint also has a small lower-level walking path with benches.

Experiences

The proposed guided walking tour of Portonovo includes the fishing port of Portonovo.

The proposed guided walking tour of Portonovo also includes a conversation with the town’s female net makers about the craft of net making. The conversation focuses on the local net-making tradition and the women who carry out this work.

The same proposed guided walking tour includes observing a fish auction at the Lonxa de Portonovo.

Further destinations

Further destinations include Noalla and A Lanzada.

For the higher-level travel overview: Sanxenxo.