Route description for Suggested route along the Rías Baixas Wine Route

Obviously, if you are on your way to Galicia, you cannot avoid a city tour of Santiago de Compostela. After all, it is not only the capital of Galicia, but with its historical center is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to the famous cathedral, which is the destination of thousands of pilgrims on the Way of St. James every year, there are many other palaces, churches, alleys and squares that should be visited.

The cape is a rising cliff that rises from the dreaded islets O Petonciño and A Centola up to the hill O Facho (242 m). In ancient times, the Ara Solis is said to have been located here, i.e. the place where rituals in honor of the sun were celebrated. Various sources see a direct parallelism between the sun sinking into the sea and the host and the sacred chalice in the coat of arms of Galicia.

To get to the lighthouse, there is a small road that leads directly from the village of Fisterra. On the way you can enjoy breathtaking views of the coast and the Ría de Corcubión. Close to the lighthouse, you should also visit the cemetery - an innovative work by the architect César Portela, which with its cubic shapes is far removed from the classic concept of a cemetery.

The further ascent to Monte Facho is also worthwhile: At the top you come across the ruins of the San Guillermo hermitage. Particularly interesting is the "Cama de San Guillermo", a pit cut into the rock the size of a human body. Legend has it that the women of this region came to this place to ask the saint for fertility.

To relax and enjoy, we suggest a trip to Praia de Carnota beach - one of the largest beaches in Galicia. Seven kilometers long and half a kilometer wide plus the dunes that expand it, this beach forms a canal in the north through which the sea penetrates and forms a huge island-shaped sand area that is an active natural area.

Take a stroll through Muros town. The origins of the city go back to the Middle Ages, which the historical town center still tells about today. Here you can find e.g. B. Houses with coats of arms, streets with colonnades, churches and small squares where you can sit down comfortably with a coffee or another drink. At lunchtime, the small fish restaurants are definitely worth a visit!

Similar to Muros, Noia can look back on a long history, which is reflected in the old town. Today the small town is famous for its good fish cuisine and the enigmatic tombstones in one of the cemeteries: At the church of Santa María a Nova from the 14th century, 500 tombstones from the Middle Ages (12th century) can be seen in the cemetery, some of them in the church itself. They show the geometric shapes of the guilds of that time - a collection that cannot be found anywhere else in Spain.

To end the day comfortably, we suggest a visit to the Pazo de Rubianes winery with its bodegas and gardens. Here you can also have your favorite wine bottled directly from the barrel ...

Time to visit the wine town of Cambados. The city is located on the Arousa estuary and is the capital of the Albariño wine region. The old town is a listed building and is home to one of the most important groups of aristocratic country estates in Galicia.

If you really want to enjoy Cambados, you should roam the city on foot. Take a look at buildings like the ruins of Santa Mariña from the 16th century or the Plaza de Fefiñáns and next to it the estate of the Figueroa family and the church of San Bieito from the 16th century. Also worth seeing are the Montesacro and Bazán estates, which now house a Parador hotel, as well as the Palace of the Counts of Maceda, a medieval building that was renovated in the 17th century, and the palace of the Chariño-Sotomayor family. You will walk again and again through high vine trellises on which the Albariño and Espadeiro grapes ripen.

Also visit the wine museum!

The O Grove peninsula is located at the entrance to the Arousa estuary. The contrasting colors of the fishing boats make for an unforgettable sight. The population lives from coastal fishing as well as from mussel, oyster and scallop farming. That's why you shouldn't leave this place without having tried seafood in a local pub.

Enjoy the landscape on a long walk along the coast over the wonderful wooden walkways! they are not far from Camping Siglo.

A day of strolling and gourmet food in Pontevedra. One of the most important and elegant old town centers in Galicia is located in this city with its long maritime and trading tradition. Alongside the Pontevedra estuary, the maze of streets and squares of the old city extends, where important civil and religious buildings stand.

Detour to the fishing village Combarro with its extraordinary Hórreos and other sights.

Vigo is the southernmost city of the Rias Baixas. The old town center has been preserved from this original fishing village with a strong taste for seafaring, which contrasts with the modern facilities of the sports ports. Vigo is the perfect base from which to enjoy the villages of the Vigo Ria and the Cíes Islands, part of the Atlantic Islands National Park.

Stroll through Casco Vello and indulge in a few oysters in A Pedra. Or relax for a day on the beach in Samil. A boat tour to the Cíes Islands is also a good alternative to relaxing.