Rodeiro: Monte Faro, Romanesque architecture and Porta de Arcos

Landscape

The Serra do Faro and its adjoining mountain ranges lie in the eastern part of Rodeiro. Their peaks exceed 1,000 metres, giving this part of the municipality a distinctly mountainous character. In the west, the landscape is shaped by the upper course of the río Arnego and the Camba valley. This area lies at an average altitude of 600 to 700 metres. Thus, Rodeiro encompasses different elevations and types of landscape side by side.

Monte Faro is the highest peak in central Galicia. From its summit, parts of all four provinces can be seen. The Ruta do Faro bears the code PR-G 7 and is included in the network of short-distance hiking trails of the Federación Galega de Montañismo. For hiking trails, current information on route conditions is a useful part of preparation in addition to the trail designation.

Culture and history

The Church of Rodeiro is a Romanesque building constructed in the 12th century and is regarded as an example of ornamental purity. The Church of Camba was also built in the 12th century as a heritage chapel of the lords of Casa de Camba. Both churches therefore belong to a medieval period, while the Pazo de Trasulfe was founded considerably later: its foundation took place at the end of the 16th century. Its entrance portal features seven coats of arms.

The Porta de Arcos archaeological site comprises the remains of an important Roman villa. The surviving finds include column bases, 2nd-century bronzes, pottery, roof tiles and glass. The Torre de Guillar is the only cultural asset in the Concello de Rodeiro catalogued by Patrimonio as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC). The Mirador del Alto de Guillar is a notable feature of Guillar.

Museum

The Museo Municipal de Rodeiro has three permanent exhibition rooms. Each room is dedicated to one of three areas: archaeology, painting or ethnography. A small selection of the materials recovered at Porta de Arcos is also housed in the Museo Municipal de Rodeiro. As a result, the museum’s rooms bring archaeological artefacts together with painting and ethnography, without the three exhibition areas merging into a single theme. Current opening hours are part of the usual preparation for museum visits.

Feira de Rodeiro

The Feira de Rodeiro takes place on the 28th of every month. This fixed date distinguishes the market from a one-off event in the annual calendar. Anyone planning to visit a monthly market should check the calendar date and current event times before travelling.

Getting there

Rodeiro can be reached via the A-53 or N-525 as far as Lalín. From Lalín, the CRG-22 leads towards Rodeiro and Chantada.

Further destinations: Vilaboa, Monte Bouza, Salcidos, Baiona, Cambados, Campo Lameiro, A Igrexa, Cores.

To the main travel overview: Pontevedra.