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Here in this north-western pocket of the Spanish mainland lies
a rich region of great diversity – a scenic coastline, shaped by
fjord-like ‘rías’, an abundant land of wooded slopes, pretty stone
villages and the occasional impressive silhouette of a historic city.
It is on and around the spectacularly indented coastline of the Rías
Baixas that many of our properties are to be found. Here, the three
estuaries or drowned river valleys of Vigo, Pontevedra and Arousa have carved a shoreline of wide sweeping bays and sheltered beaches
of golden sand, whilst their calm waters are the source of some of the
finest seafood in Europe.
At the point where the Ría de Vigo meets the river, daily catches,
mainly of oyster and mussel, are hauled onto the shores of the ‘seafood
capital’ of Arcade, later to be auctioned in the adjacent market.
Naturally, it is this that dominates the menus of the restaurants that
line the streets behind. Further down, from the well kept lawns and
long sands of Cesnantes views across the water encompass the lush
wooded slopes that line the opposite shore.
In the nearby Ría de Pontevedra, a wander up the forested hillside that
backs the bustling coastal town of Sanxenxo reveals the impressive
panorama of seascape, punctuated by the imposing outline of the
protected islands of Ciés and Ons, which are home to long sweeping
beaches of fine white sand and a haven for birds.
Continuing northwards, the road soon turns a
corner to reveal the long majestic sands of
A Lanzada, where dunes and open grassland
form the backdrop, with not a building in sight.
Beyond, a bridge now joins the mainland to
the idyllic island of A Toxa, home to the fishing
town of O Grove and famed for its ‘conchas’
or shellfish, which are served in their shells and
combined with a delicious mixture of finely
chopped onion and pepper.
No visitor can leave Galicia without witnessing
the spectacular city of Santiago de Compostela.
A melting pot for pilgrims who flock here
every year to pay homage to St James the
Apostle, this must undoubtedly rank among
the most beautiful cities in the world. It is a
second Rome, set on a hillside amongst lush
rolling countryside.
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