Jul
31
Galicia’s top five historical attractions
Filed Under EN
Parador Hostal Dos Reis Católicos
Santiago de Compostela’s famous Parador, located in the cathedral square,
makes a plausible claim to being the oldest hotel in the world. It was
constructed at the beginning of the 16th century as a royal hospice for
pilgrims visiting the shrine of St James in the cathedral just across the
square. The hotel is laid out around four exquisite, arcaded Renaissance and
Gothic courtyards, which you can explore even if you are not staying. Look
for the many plaques on the walls explaining the building’s history.
Santiago de Compostela is one of Spain’s most monumental towns, with an
architectural style all of its own.
Pontevedra old town
Pontevedra was the biggest town in Galicia in the 15th and 16th centuries and
today, with the exception of Santiago de Compostela, it has the most
substantial and best-preserved old quarter in the region. Spread over the
extensive network of pedestrianised streets and little squares are arcaded
mansions of toffee-coloured stone, boasting heraldic coats of arms and
ornate wrought-iron balconies. The prettiest square is Praza da Leña, whose
colonnaded buildings – now housing some inviting tapas bars that overlook a
granite cross. Also seek out the Basilica de Santa Maria a Maior: its
ornately sculpted west facade is considered a plateresque masterpiece.
Combarro’s hórreos
Handsome granite granaries called hórreos are ubiquitous in Galicia. Some are
small and these days basically serve as rather elegant garden sheds, while
others are impressive, barn-like structures. One of the best places to
admire hórreos is the fishing village of Combarro, on the northern shore of
the Ría de Pontevedra. Lining the waterfront are about 30 quaint old
granaries, topped with little crosses and raised off the ground on
mushroom-shaped stone legs to keep out the damp and rodents.
La Carabela Pinta
The town of Baiona, not far from the Portuguese border, is one of Galicia’s
most attractive. Once you have had a wander round its castellated and wooded
peninsula, sipped a drink in the smart Parador inside the walls and dined in
one of the many enticing seafood restaurants in the old quarter, you should
inspect the Pinta, moored in the harbour. It’s a beautifully crafted replica
of one of the three vessels that accompanied Columbus on his discovery of
the New World in 1492. The original Pinta returned to Baiona the following
year.
Visit the Telegraph’s Galicia
homepage to discover more about this secret corner of Green Spain
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