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Pazo de Galegos | Surroundings
To see and visit
Surroundings
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Vedra
Vedra
Through this land runs the penultimate stage of the Via de la Plata or Camino Real, before its entry into Santiago de Compostela. This town hall is marked by the Ulla River, which flows through a great part of its geography. Noteworthy Recreation Areas are A Ferreira and the Pereiro waterfalls, Cubelas, Coto de Ximonde and Agronovo. For viewpoints you should not miss Pazo de Cova and Gundián.
There are good examples of architecture, civil and religious. In the Pazo de Ortigueira you can visit their gardens considered one of the major botanical areas of Galicia. Pazo de Ximonde, Pazo de Vista Alegre, the Pazo de Guimaráns or da Costa, are clear examples of Galician manor houses where important families resided. Vedra has 12 parishes each with examples of religious architecture, parish churches of medieval origin and some small chapels as the Santiaguiño eighteenth century (about 800 meters from Pazo Galegos) with great historical weight, by its side a baroque fountain moved here in 1724, has an inscription on the transfer of the body of St. James and the legend of the dragon and Queen Lupa. According to some authors the two images representing St.James' disciples, Athanasius and Theodore, come from ancient Romanesque choir of the Cathedral of Santiago, work of Maestro Mateo.
Those who like to enjoy nature will find several hiking trails, as already discussed the Via de la Plata is here with its penultimate stage, bordering the chapel of Santiaguiño, near our hotel. You can also see water mills along the route do Pereiro, with its waterfall and Busacos Bridge, and on the watermill route of the Merin River, where we also see well-preserved water mills, walking among rocks, vegetation and waterfalls. Another route is the beautiful view of San Xoán da Cova, which leads from the viewpoint of Gundián until Cubelas recreation area through the passage of Cova, Coto de Ximonde. For more information visit the website of the municipality, www.concellodevedra.com.
Pico Sacro is one of the most legendary and well-known mountains of Galicia. From the silver way, the peak is the first place from which you can see the towers of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, fulfilling a role similar to the Monte do Gozo. Source of countless legends, this mountain was revered by the inhabitants of the region before and after Christianity, fulfilling an essential role in the myth of transporting the body of St. James. According to the legend recorded in the Codex Calixtino, which narrates the arrival of the body of the Apostle in Galicia, in the Pico Sacro reigned Raiña Lupa (Queen Lupa) ally of the Romans. The disciples of the apostle appealed to her to provide them a cart and oxen to transport the body to the Campo das Estrelas (Compostela). Legend has it that Queen Lupa sent them to the Pico Sacro, with the hope that the dragon and the oxen, actually wild bulls, which lived there, would kill them. The disciples close to death made the sign of the cross before the dragon leading to its death and the taming of the bulls. This led to the conversion of the queen and her subjects to the new Christian religion. -
Pazo de Oca
Pazo de Oca
A must for its distinctly French gardens, romantic corners with sculptures and ponds will not disappoint visitors.
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Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Of course the Cathedral is not to be missed. Building started in 1075 by the master Esteban. Are carried out on what had been the ancient temple that King Alfonso II had built to house the tomb of St. James in the ninth century. The second major campaign was directed by the Master Mateo in 1168. Outside, the Portico of Glory, the facade of Platerías, the Holy Door (can only be opened in holy year), the Azabachería façade and the much photographed Obradoiro Facade deserve special attention. Of course, one of the attractions of the Cathedral is to see the functioning of the famous botafumeiro. Both the squares surrounding the cathedral (Praza do Obradoiro, Praza das Praterías, Praza da Quintana and Praza da Immaculada), as its streets and avenues, are of a beauty that moves. It is also interesting to take the visit of the roofs of the cathedral, if you can, don't miss it.
In the same Obradoiro square, stands the Hospital of the Catholic Kings, built by these to care for sick and pilgrims in the year 1492.It is worth admiring its plateresque porch. Currently houses a five-star National Parador, one of the most beautiful hotels in the world.
Platerías Square owes its name to the guilds of goldsmiths who settled here in the middle Ages. The square dates from the eleventh century but was rebuilt after a fire in 1117. The Romanesque facade of the Cathedral overlooks this square, as well as the fountain of the Horses and the Clock Tower or Berengaria, that is 70 meters high. The square also houses the Casa del Cabildo noted for its narrowness and its baroque facade.
The Plaza da Quintana has stairs in the centre that give it two levels: the upper, “Quintana de Vivos" (of the living) and the bottom, known as “Quintana Mortos" (of the dead), was the ancient necropolis of the city. In this square is the Holy Door, which only opened in the Holy Years, the House of the Canons, the Convent of San Paio of Antealtares, which retains the original altar of the sarcophagus of the Apostle (in the cathedral was raised one more rich and grand), and Casa de la Parra, one of the finest examples of civil baroque architecture of the city. In the Acibechería or Inmaculada square is the Monasterio de San Martin Pinario, founded shortly after the remains of the Apostle were found. The architectural complex represents one of the most important in Plateresque in Galicia. It is one of the largest religious buildings in Spain (20,000 square meters). It is worth contemplating the vaulted refectory, which is 34 meters long. The temple, the most important church of Santiago, after the cathedral, houses one of the best Galician Baroque altarpieces. The Square takes its name from the azabacheros (black amber smiths) established there in medieval times. Also in the Square is the entrance Archbishop's Palace or Gelmírez. Through the Arc de Palacio you can enter the Obradoiro Square.
With the advent of the mendicant orders (product of the pilgrimage), on the outskirts of Santiago were built in the past several monasteries which have absorbed by city today. Some, like Santo Domingo de Bonaval and it's church were founded in 1220, and now houses the Museo do Pobo Galego showing pieces of ethnographic material from Galicia. Inside you can see the Pantheon of Distinguished Gallegos: Ramón Cabanillas, Alfredo Branas, Castelao, Domingo Fontan, Francisco Asorey, and Rosalia de Castro. Founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1214, the Convent and Church of San Francisco are also interesting. Although today the original remains of this monastery are few, you can see the reconstruction of the seventeenth century. More intellectual in nature is the Colegio de Fonseca, Archbishop Alonso de Fonseca adapted his birthplace to make an educational centre in 1544.Later the building became the headquarters of the University and today is the University Library. Walking along the Rua Nova will find the Church of Santa Maria Salome, built in the XII century in Romanesque style. Inside the temple you can admire a bespectacled Angel as part of the altarpiece decoration.
Casa do Dean or the Dean's House gives way to the Rua del Villar and with it's noble houses, palaces and arcades. The Dean's House was built in the eighteenth century, originally housed all visiting bishops from outside the city. Currently the Pilgrim's Office is located here for the delivery of Compostela by the cathedral council, which credits all who complete the Way to Santiago.
Rua do Franco, according to tradition, was the place where the oxen that moved the body of the Apostle from Iria Flavia, stopped to drink water. In that same place was built a chapel which houses an image of Santiago Peregrino. It is the street with more bars and restaurants in the capital of Galicia, their windows display of seafood and meats attract the sight of all passersby and invite them to taste the delicacies of the great Galician gastronomy.
One of the entrances to the Mazarelos square is a baroque gate of the same name. It is the only surviving gate of the old city wall. The visit to the Collegiate Church of Sar is mandatory. It was founded in 1134, is the best preserved Romanesque building of Santiago, but in a almost miraculous manner: either by a building defect or because the land is often flooded by the waters of the nearby river, the arches lowered, bending columns and walls, so in the eighteenth century enormous buttresses were added that prevented it collapsing. The interior impresses with this bewitching antigravity inclination of the columns. The district of Sar is bounded by Mount Gaiás, on which is currently being built the City of Culture of Galicia, a major cultural facility including museums, library, newspaper, opera house and ample space for regional plant species, recreating a native landscape.
The Plaza of Abastos (food market) of Santiago de Compostela is, after the Cathedral, the second most visited monument of the city. The market is part of the Historical Centre near the University. The Plaza of Abastos offers, since 1873, natural and excellent fresh products, fruit, meat, fish, seafood, bread, cheese, etc.. The Plaza of Abastos recovers the historical memory of the popular fairs and markets of Galicia. The Alameda Park particularly invites visitors to walk. Its oak trees provide shade in summer and protection winter .The park is from the nineteenth century and is inspired by the romantic gardens. It is a magnificent viewpoint from which you can see wonderful views of the city. In Alameda you can see: the temple of the Carballeira de Santa Susana, Sargadelos banks, the sculpture of the Two Marys, the university campus and Anterum Pollorum Castro.
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