Just Outside a Coruña
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.gal .es .en Just Outside A Coruña As Mariñas and the Gulf of Ártabro* *Artabrorum The Gulf of Ártabro is the large mouth where the sea flows into the land, formed by the convergence of the rías or tidal inlets of A Coruña, Betanzos, Ares and Ferrol: the ‘chunk’ that appears to have been bitten out of the Iberian Peninsula when seen on a map. The Greco-Roman geographers named it Portus Magnus A CORUÑA BY NIGHT, SEEN FROM MERA BEACH Artabrorum (the great Ártabro natural harbour). We have come up with a number of attractive tours around the As Mariñas Coruñesas area, bathed by the waters of the Gulf of Ártabro. You may opt to take our route along the eastern coast of the Ría de A Coruña, in Oleiros, enjoying the spectacular views of the city, its port and the Tower of Hercules. Alternatively, discover the delights of Betanzos and Pontedeume, medieval towns once ruled over by the knight Fernán Pérez de Andrade, known as O Boo VIEW OF THE GULT OF ÁRTABRO (‘the Good’). Also not to be missed are the fascinating monuments and delightful spots in towns such as Sada, Bergondo, Abegondo, Cambre, Carral or Culleredo. You should also take the time to marvel at the rough Biosphere seas that crash onto the shores of beaches that line the coast of Arteixo as far as the fishing town of Reserve: Caión, the gateway to the dreaded Costa da Morte The Mariñas Coruñesas or ‘Coast of Death’. and Terras do Mandeo Biosphere Reserve comprises land, coastal and marine ecosystems in the basins of the rivers Mero and Mandeo, including areas that form part of the Natura 2000 network. It covers no fewer than seventeen boroughs, including A Coruña. Biosphere Reserves are designated by UNESCO, as part of its Man and Biosphere programme. The aim is to conserve cultural and environmental heritage, promote the socio- economic development of the DIANA THE HUNTRESS FOUNTAIN - BETANZOS MARIÑAN MANOR HOUSE – THE GARDENS areas’ residents and provide opportunities for research and education in sustainable development. ...profiles: Fernán Perez de Andrade, a medieval knight and lord of the lands you will be visiting on these tours. You can learn more about him and his life in Betanzos and Pontedeume. The García Naveira Brothers, indianos – emigrants who made their fortune in America, MERA LIGHTHOUSE specifically in Argentina, before returning to their hometown of Betanzos in the early 20th century, where they became major philanthropists. Luis Seoane, (Buenos Aires, 1910 - A Coruña, 1979).“The Galicians will eventually learn about their history, even though it is limited to bric-a-brac and other knick- knacks...” A painter, writer and intellectual who revolutionised art and the history of Galicia with his designs for El Castro and Sargadelos ceramics factories back in the 1970s. The ghost of Fiz de Cotovelo who haunts the footpaths of Cecebre in El Bosque Animado (‘The Enchanted Wood’), the novel by Wenceslao Fernández Florez, often pays a visit to San Amaro Cemetery in A Coruña to liven up the guided tour of this Galician pantheon, ARTEIXO - SURFERS included on the Significant Cemeteries in Europe Route. MORE INFO AT: www.turismocoruna.com FOLLOW US ON: Turismo Coruña Calle Sol. Edificio Sol, s/n 15003 A Coruña T +34 981 184 344 infoturismo@coruna.es As MariñasGULF OF ÁRTABRO Coruñesas FERROL FERROL SEA INLET MUGARDOS GULF OF ARES ÁRTABRO ATLANTIC OCEAN ARES SEA INLET .2 .3 .4 38 km / 30’ PONTEDEUME SADA A CORUÑA 25 km / 30’ BETANZOS SEA INLET SEA INLET 23 km / 20’ .5 MIÑO 7 km / 12’ COSTA DA BERGONDO 25 km / 30’ MORTE 16 km / 20’ OLEIROS .11 24 km / 23’ 15 km / 20’ 12 km / 12’ .6 21 km / 21’ CAMBRE .1 CAIÓN .7 .10 21 km / 21’ CULLEREDO BETANZOS ARTEIXO CARRAL ABEGONDO .8 .9 .1 .5 .9 Betanzos Sites situated just outside Bergondo Abegondo 24 km / 23’ the town and that are well 23 km / 20’ (AP-9 Motorway, 30 km / 26’ (AP-9 and A-6 (AP-9 Motorway, exit 2F-A) worth a visit include Breamo exit 2F-B) motorways) Standing on a river peninsula Chapel, Andrade Castle and the Bergondo is an area boasting The manor houses of Quiroga surrounded by the rivers monasteries of Monfero and a wealth of stately homes and and Figueroa are clear Mandeo and Mendo, the Caaveiro, nestling in the heart manor houses, including the indications of this borough’s historic quarter of this medieval of the Fragas do Eume Nature magnificent Baroque Pazo de noble past. Abegondo is the city has been declared a Park, Europe’s best-conserved Mariñán, owned by A Coruña site of a stone cross that was Historic and Artistic Site. Three autochthonous coastal forest. Provincial Council. Standing on the so deeply-admired by the gates of the ancient walls are banks of the Ría de Betanzos tidal people of A Coruña that they still standing: Arco da Ponte inlet, it is open to visitors who can decided to erect a replica Nova, Arco do Cristo and tour the house and magnificent here in the city, in front of Arco da Ponte Vella. Inside the grounds dotted with several bird- the Church of San Jorge. The walls are three early Gothic watching points. Pedrido Bridge, Beche and Abegondo-Cecebre churches built by Fernán Pérez a feat of engineering designed by reservoirs, built in 1976 to de Andrade: the 14th century Torroja Miret and Villalba Granda, supply the city of A Coruña San Francisco, declared a takes us to Miño, site of one of and included in the Natura national monument, housing the most spectacular beaches 2000 network, are ideal spots the tombs of Fernán Pérez on this stretch of coastline. from which to observe the de Andrade and other nobles flocks of birds that migrate that have made this temple .3 here for the winter. The training Galicia’s most important ground of football team pantheon for members of Deportivo de A Coruña is also the nobility; the 15th century Eastern coast of the Ría de located in Abegondo. Santa María do Azougue, also A Coruña (Oleiros) declared a national monument (Accessed via Avenida Alfonso and whose most outstanding Molina AC-11 and Puente Pasaje features are the Flemish school AC-12) polychrome wooden reredos The bridge’s central lane will and the capital with Galicia’s bring us to Santa Cristina only medieval farming calendar; (7 km / 12’), a peninsula-shaped .6 and the 15th century Church beach in the borough of Oleiros. of Santiago, featuring a figure From here we head towards of the Apostle Saint James Bastiagueiro (2 km / 5’), a beach Cambre over the doorway. A municipal that is a firm favourite with the 16 km / 20’ (AP-9 Motorway, exit 7) .10 tower was built adjacent to this young people of A Coruña. This town is home to one of temple in the 16th century. the finest examples of Galician Romanesque architecture: Arteixo the Church of Santa María de 23 km / 20’ (AG-55) Cambre. Opposite the main Arteixo is home to the façade of the church is the headquarters of fashion retail Archaeological Site Museum, giant INDITEX and also the site housing remains of the Roman of A Coruña’s Outer Port. Top town. You can also enjoy of our list of recommendations a relaxing stroll along the is a nature walk along the promenade that lines the Ría sendero azul or ‘blue footpath’ do Burgo tidal inlet or spot the (low difficulty, 6.5 km) in numerous Modernist style houses. the Costa da Morte Special Cambre’s attractions include Area of Conservation (SAC). the wood that inspired the You will walk along the path The next stop on the route is novel by Wenceslao Fernández joining seven spectacular Not to be missed is a visit to Santa Cruz (1 km / 3’), site of Flores, El Bosque Animado unspoilt beaches that defy the the Pasatiempo Encyclopaedia the castle built to defend the (‘The Enchanted Wood’), which onslaught of the wild North Park. Work on this recreational tidal inlet which today affords was also made into a film. Atlantic. Waters that attract facility was completed in 1914 breathtaking views of our city. surfers, seabirds, dolphins and by the García Naveira Brothers, Continuing on to Mera sometimes even whales. indianos who emigrated to (5 km / 8’), a summer holiday Argentina where they made town, we make our way up to their fortunes. The early the lighthouse, consisting of 20th century also brought two towers which, together a new style of architecture with the Tower of Hercules, to Betanzos: Modernism. guide large vessels entering the Architect Rafael González port of A Coruña. The Costa Villar, who designed the Kiosco de Dexo nature monument Alfonso in A Coruña, is one extends between the .7 of the key figures behind the lighthouse and Lorbé harbour, transformation of medieval famous for its floating mussel .11 Betanzos into a ‘modern city’. farming platforms. From the O Burgo, Culleredo top of the cliffs we can admire 12 km / 12’ (AP-9 Motorway, exit 7) stunning views of the rías or A stopping point on the Caión and Costa da Morte tidal inlets that form the Gulf of English Way of Saint James 25 km / 30’ (AG-55, DP-0514) Ártabro: A Coruña, Betanzos, from A Coruña to Santiago de Caión, site of a former whale Ares and Ferrol. Compostela. Sights worth looking fishing harbour, is a small village out for include O Burgo Bridge, of less than 1,000 inhabitants where the city once stood that provides a fascinating before King Alphonse IX of León insight into the lives of the ordered ‘Cruñia’ to be moved people that inhabit this coastal to the site known today as the region.