Discover Redondela: Camino, Culture and Nature

Historic routes of the Camino Portugués that begin in Portugal converge in Redondela. The first Galician stage of the Camino Portugués runs between Tui and Redondela along a gently sloping route beside the Louro River. The Igrexa de Santiago Redondela is located on both the Camino Portugués and the Camino Portugués de la costa.

Other destinations

Other destinations: Vilagarcia De Arousa, Bandeira, Ponteareas, A Lama, Pontecesures, O Rosal, Valga and A Penela.

Nature and trails

The Redondela section of the Senda da Auga is 23 kilometres long and passes through Chapela, Trasmañó, Cedeira, Negros, Cabeiro, Vilar de Infesta, Saxamonde, Quintela, and Reboreda. The Ruta das Pedras Agudas is a 10-kilometre circular hike with an approximate duration of three hours and a medium level of difficulty. It climbs to its highest point at Pedra Taió, offers views of the Ría de Vigo along the way, and passes unusual rock formations.

The Cedeira-Roteiro da Auga is an approximately 7.5-kilometre circular route on the spring slope of Monte Penide. The Roteiro da Auga is suitable for observing woodland birds and a remarkable variety of amphibians at dusk. It includes the petroglyph group of Coto do Corno, which is dated to approximately 4,000 years ago. Monte Penide, also known as Monte Mirallo, is also home to archaeological sites representing approximately 4,000 years of prehistory.

A path of less than 200 metres leads to the Fervenza da Feixa, which descends approximately 15 metres. The Paseo da Portela is an approximately 1.5-kilometre wooden walkway along the mouth of the Alvedosa River, leading from Redondela town centre to the Portela district. From O Mellor Banco do Mundo, there are views of the Cíes Islands, the Rande Strait, and San Simón Bay.

Monte e Mirador da Peneda lies 327 metres above sea level and offers views of the Ría de Vigo and the valley of the Verdugo River. Parts of the Fortaleza de Castrizán, built at the end of the 15th century on the orders of the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, Alonso de Fonseca, have been preserved at Monte e Mirador da Peneda. Praia de Cesantes has cafés, restaurants, leisure areas, and a car park. Water sports activities frequently take place on Praia de Cesantes both in winter and summer. The beach area of Paseo e Praia de Arealonga has cafés and restaurants with terraces.

Culture and history

The Museo Meirande presents the archaeological and cultural heritage of the Batalla de Rande, as well as the industrial and historical heritage of Rande. Its rooms recreate the era, the trade goods, the battle, and certain aspects of the canning industry, while offering a view of the Ponte de Rande in San Simón Bay. The Viaducto de Ourense is 318 metres long and reaches a maximum height of 36 metres.

The Convento de Vilavella is located at the entrance to Redondela when arriving in Santiago along the Camiño Interior and belongs to the Order of San Lourenzo Xustinianeo. The least altered church of the Convento de Vilavella has a rectangular nave divided into five sections by transverse arches. The Miliario de Vilar was erected around the 2nd century AD as a Roman milestone indicating distances. The Miliario de Vilar, also known as Miliario de Santiaguiño, formed part of the ancient Via XIX, which connected Braga and Astorga via Lugo.

The Pazo de Reboreda is a Galician manor house founded in the 17th century by the García Prego de Montaos family. The Casa da Alfóndega is a 16th-century building with a round-arched portal and two coats of arms on the façade. The Igrexa de Redondela is dedicated to the Apostle Santiago and is located at the highest point of the old town. Its original layout dates back to the first half of the 15th century; the church was built over an older building that had been consecrated in 1114 by the Archbishop of Santiago, Diego Xelmírez.

A monastic community existed on Illa de San Simón in the Middle Ages; the island is also associated with the Battle of Rande in 1702. The renovated facilities of Illa de San Simón are used for sociocultural activities such as congresses, conferences, music schools, and holiday camps. The Cemiterio dos Eidos was renovated in 2020 and includes sculptures, graves, mausoleums, and tombstones of artistic value.

The Festival de Monicreques presents professional puppet theatre groups from around the world and includes participatory games and street entertainment. During the Festa da Coca, the figure of the Coca is carried through the streets every year during the Corpus Christi procession; the Danza das Espadas e das Penlas and floral arrangements for the procession of the Virxe “Gabacha” also take place. The Festa da Coca is recognised as an event of Galician tourist interest, lasts several days, and includes performances, concerts, exhibitions, and nighttime traditional festivals.

Festivals and flavour

Choco de Redondela is associated with the habitat in San Simón Bay and the traditional fishing techniques of local fishermen. The Festa do Choco is traditionally celebrated in the first half of May and began in 1987. The focus is on tasting choco prepared with rice, in its own ink, as empanada, and in other innovative variations.

The Festa da Mazá takes place on the first Sunday in October in Santo Estevo de Negros. It offers tastings of savoury, cold, and sweet apple dishes, as well as an apple dessert competition.

To the higher-level travel overview: Pontevedra.