Vilagarcía: Trails, Culture and Ría

In Vilagarcía, the historic route passes through streets and squares with archaeological remains and historic buildings.

Further information about the area can be found at Aralde.

Culture and History

Pazo de Rubiáns was built in the 15th century over a fortified tower dating from the 12th century and extensively remodelled in the 18th century. The pazo has a winery and a shop selling wines and cosmetic products made from camellias. Castro de Alobre is one of the most important castros in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.

The Igrexa de Santa Eulalia de Arealonga is a Baroque church built at the end of the 17th century over a hermitage of unknown origin, showing clear influences of Compostela art. Its main nave has a Latin-cross floor plan with the two side chapels of San Miguel and Rosario; San Miguel is known for its sculptural ensemble, while Rosario is known for its monumentality.

The Igrexa de San Martín de Sobrán is considered one of the finest examples of Romanesque art in Galicia and Spain and lies on the Route of the Arousa Sea and the Ulla River.

Museum and Trails

MUFEVI is a small, two-storey museum with a permanent exhibition on the history of the railway, presented through images, documents, objects and interactive games. The museum also has a 3D projection room and lies on the Route of the Arousa Sea and the Ulla River.

The Vía Verde de O Salnés takes approximately two and a half hours, runs across almost completely flat terrain and is shared by pedestrians and cyclists. It begins in the village of Abelle on the outskirts of Vilagarcía and offers views of the Ría.

Nature and Water

O Campanario-Bamio is a peaceful beach with a fluvial character at the mouth of the Ulla River. Kitesurfing takes place on the beach; the adjacent campsite is home to one of Galicia’s reference centres for this sport.

Organised visits to Cortegada Island depart mainly from Vilagarcía and Carril and are accompanied by a guide accredited by the national park. A visitor route passes a former fishing village and a chapel and crosses laurel, oak and eucalyptus forests.

Cortegada Island can be visited on any day of the year, but permits issued by the national park are required for navigation and anchoring.

Market and Events

The Plaza de Abastos is a building dating from 1929 where fish, seafood, Galician meat, artisan sausages, bread, cheese, honey and artisan preserves are sold. The Plaza de Abastos regularly hosts cooking demonstrations and promotional events; some products purchased there can be prepared upstairs for on-site tasting.

The Fiesta del Agua takes place every year on 16 August. The Combate Naval is a fireworks festival on the beach recreating the attack on the port of Callao in Peru in 1866.

To the higher-level travel overview: Pontevedra.

More destinations

More places under the same destination:

As Madorras, Vilanova De Arousa, O Morrazo, Moaña, Vilavella, Hervés, Carbia.