Discover Santiso: Churches, Castro and Festivals

The Igrexa de San Román de Santiso connects two well-known pilgrimage routes: it is listed both on the Camino de Invierno and on the Vía de la Plata. From the church, views extend as far as the mountains of the Serra do Candán, Testeiro and Monte Carrio. In Santiso, religious sites and striking landscapes therefore lie directly alongside one another.

Culture

In Eirexe, the church stands on the former Camiño Real, known as the Camiño dos Casteláns. In the past, pilgrims, merchants and carters used this route. Its name thus recalls a historic connection that brought different travellers and the movement of goods through the area.

The architectural heritage also includes the Pazo de Velón in Santiso do Fondo. The large manor house has an attached chapel dedicated to Saint Blaise. The Capela de San Brais is a small religious building connected to the adjoining Casa de Velón. The manor house, chapel and adjoining building thus form a unified historic site.

The festivals also preserve religious traditions. During the celebration of the Virxe de Fátima on 13 May, flowers are still scattered and First Communion is celebrated. At the same time, the municipality is currently attempting to revive the celebration in honour of San Román together with the Santo Domingo festival. Both references show that, alongside the churches and historic buildings, the festival calendar is also part of Santiso’s cultural identity.

Landscape

The valleys of Deza, Trasdeza and Ulla stretch out in front of the Igrexa de San Román de Santiso. The Peña de Francia peak is also located in the wider regional surroundings of Santiso. Thus, the described landscape extends from the valleys in front of the church to a peak in the wider region.

History

At the Castro de Santiso, hardly any structures are visible on the surface. Small rises in the terrain seem to mark the course of the northern section of the site. The estimated diameter of the Castro de Santiso is approximately 100 metres. The visible traces and approximate extent give the site its archaeological character, even though the settlement cannot be fully identified on the surface.

Places

Several historic sites and monuments are located in the surroundings of Santiso. These include O porco de Lalín and Kilometro Cero de Galicia. The Estatua de Joaquín Loriga and the Fonte Dos Cabalos are also in the area. These places complement Santiso’s cultural surroundings with additional individual destinations connected to history or collective memory.

Several parks are also located in the surroundings of Santiso: the Carballeira do Rodo and the Praza da Vila. The Skate Park is likewise in this area. Thus, in addition to churches, manor houses, festivals and archaeological traces, the local selection also includes various parks and a skate park.

More places on this page: Camposancos, Figueiras, Pontecesures, A Guarda, A Almuíña, Duxame, Vilaboa, A Telleira.

To the higher-level travel overview: Pontevedra.