MUNICIPALITIES RÍAS ALTAS: ALTAS: RÍAS MARIÑAS AND AS A CORUÑA area tourist Dock of A Coruña and the typical balconies in the Marina on the background Tower of Hércules (A Coruña) Bird’s eye view of the stately village of Betanzos María Pita square and city hall Modernist building A Terraza (Sada) Abegondo Aranga Arteixo Betanzos Cambre Carral Coirós A Coruña Culleredo Oleiros Sada One of the main attractions in this This place is well known for Located in the western part of Its historical importance is marked It offers the traveler both the This municipality is well known Hiking is its main attraction, with With a deep erudite and fishing Its main peculiarity is the airport This thriving town near A Coruña. It represents one of the area are its landscapes, marked its prehistorical remains, with the golfo Ártabro, this region by the role it played as one of richness of natural areas and its for its exceptional bread and its eight routes adapted to different tradition, this city, totally bathed coexisting with the rural areas. Is one of the most popular most important tourist and by the reservoirs of Abegondo- several fields of dolmens and combines the wild nature of its the seven capitals of the Ancient historical-artistic heritage, among ancient tradition, as well as difficulty levels where the hiker by the Atlantic Ocean, is perfect The riverbank promenade Rego summer locations visited by fishing towns in the North Cecebre, declared Special Area castros such as the one of rough beaches with a booming Kingdom of Galicia, with an which the Romanesque church of for its “empanada” (Galician can see hydro-electric plants for walking, going shopping das Xesteira, which is made up of tourists because of its beautiful coast of Galicia. In these of Conservation, and Beche. It is the Cotorras, not forgetting its industrial landscape, with the impressive architectural heritage, Santa María stands out, built in pie), another leading product and the remains of an ancient or enjoying good food. With eleven mills and by the beautiful beaches, its gastronomy and lands, noble towers cohabit also popular for its connection to traditional architecture. industrial area of Sabón as a it is famous for the festivity of the the 12th century and preserved in of the local gastronomy. spa. In order to enjoy a wonderful its distinctive white-windowed river landscapes of the estuary of leisure offer. Its heritage includes with fishermen’s houses Galician nobility with pazos like source of economic development. Caneiros, where decorated small perfect conditions. Furthermore, there is a panoramic view of these lands, balconies and its long urban O Burgo stand out in this area. Romanesque architectural gems and modernist buildings, Pastoriza and Figueroa. boats go up the river Mandeo full great recreational area in a visit to Pena Furada and the beaches, this city stands out for such as Santa María de Dexo or such as the Terraza. Bergondo of people celebrating with food and the surrounding area of miradoiro (viewpoint) de Espenuca its night life too. Irixoa the castle of Santa Cruz. wine. On the night of San Roque, mount Xalo, from where we is a must. It is one of the best communicated the most important night of the can enjoy an impressive It is located in a transition area Oza-Cesuras Festival of María Pita (A Coruña) councils of this province. Its village festivities, the locals release panoramic view. between the plain of Terra Chá landmark being pazo de Mariñán a hot air paper balloon that they and the coastal regions of the “Un bo sitio para vivir” (a good and its gardens, although we can spend the year making with pictures Mariñas, what gives it a unique place to live) is the slogan of this also find architectural gems such that represent that year. An event river landscape. municipality, which is formed as the monastery and church of that attracts many visitors. by the union of two towns. It is San Salvador, apart from calm Romanesque church of Santa María (Cambre) Miño important to highlight the route of beaches, such as Gandarío. Rexidoira as it is one of the most This town, declared Tourist diverse Galician hiking routes. Interest Site and half way between A Coruña and Ferrol, has very Paderne beautiful beaches that are perfect for families with children and are The beautiful natural landscape spread throughout more than marked by the rivers Lambre and seven kilometres of coast. Mandeo, is a part of the Reserva da Biosfera Mariñas Coruñesas e Terras do Mandeo. Its coat of arms bears scallop shells in testimony Campo da Rata (A Coruña) to the English Way which crosses these lands. Bonfires in San Juan (A Coruña) Gardens of the pazo de Mariñán (Bergondo) Pazo de Mariñán (Bergondo) WHAT TO VISIT: A CORUÑA LUGO NATURE HERITAGE A unique destination where the wild and open FAIRS Atlantic Ocean shares coastline with the sheltered Beaches. In A Coruña, the urban beaches of Riazor, Lighthouses. The Tower of Hércules is the main estuaries of the golfo Ártabro, riverside landscapes The medieval fairs of A Coruña and Betanzos, which Orzán-Matadoiro and As Lapas are part of one of the attraction in this area. It is the distinguishing mark with the wild nature of the inlands, the clout of are a perfect historical recreation of the Middle Ages, longest sea promenades in Europe. In Arteixo, you of A Coruña, appointed World Heritage Site and industry with the quiet viewpoints, both fishing and take us back to the times of merchants, feudal lords, can experience the beauty of a wild, open sea at the the oldest functioning roman lighthouse in the hunting together with water sports… Diversity and minstrels and their poems. beaches of Barrañán and Valcobo, and in Oleiros, world, three great reasons to visit this big lookout contrasts for a land that goes from the capital city Sada and Miño, the calm, peaceful beaches visited surrounded by legends. Another important one is the of A Coruña, to the noble town of Betanzos or the by many tourists. lighthouse of Mera, a privileged balcony on the coast touristic town of Sada. of Dexo (Oleiros) from where to see the entrance of Mariñas coruñesas and Terras do Mandeo. 17 the three estuaries in the golfo Ártabro. WHAT TO DO: municipalities are part of this protected area, the Reserva da Biosfera, mainly constituted by the basins The historical ensemble of Betanzos. This town is ROUTES of the rivers Mero and Mandeo. one of the seven capitals of the Ancient Kingdom of Galicia, and its historical centre, which still preserves Routes in As Mariñas. There are a selection of Reservoir of Abegondo-Cecebre. It is one of the important monuments such as the church of San different itineraries in four different councils, such RÍAS ALTAS: RÍAS MARIÑAS AND AS A CORUÑA area tourist most important wetlands in Galicia, with a powerful Francisco, from the second half of the 14th century, as the one along the river Sisalde and the coast of landscape formed by the reservoir of Cecebre, was declared Historical-Artistic ensemble. Arteixo, or the one along the rivers of Cambre, which PONTEVEDRA OURENSE which guarantees the water supply for most of the allows a visit to the main riverbeds in this municipality, metropolitan area of A Coruña and is a benchmark Pazo de Mariñán. A good way to get to know what the port of Dexo and Seixo Branco, in Oleiros, and the Medieval fair (Betanzos) regarding flora and fauna. life was like in a Galician palace during the 18th lighthouse routes in Mera and in Sada. century, in the centre of a spectacular environment THE ENGLISH WAY Mount of San Pedro. This ancient defensive point in the council of Bergondo, it was an inspiration for RÍAS ALTAS: Cultural visits. A Coruña offers a wide variety of of A Coruña has become its best viewpoint. From the a gem of the Galician literature such as “O bosque visits for you to learn about the city, and the best A Coruña is one of the starting points of the popular top of the hill, the best panoramic view of the city animado”, by Wenceslao Fernández Flórez. A CORUÑA AND AS MARIÑAS way is through characters such as Picasso, Sir English Way, which crosses the North of the province, can be seen, boats that are guided by the Tower of John Moore, María Pita and even the soul of Fiz de there are almost 75 km from A Coruña to Santiago Hércules, and also beautiful sunsets. Town squares in A Coruña. We can find a beautiful sea and land MAGIC destinations Cotobelo, from whom you will find out about the de Compostela, although in the surrounding area of connection between stone and nature in the Old secrets of the cemetery of Santo Amaro. Mesía it connects with the Way from Ferrol. It was Lugar de Chelo. This beautiful river environment is Town. The town squares of Bárbaras and da Fariña given its name because it was the route chosen by located in the valley of Espenuca and was declared are sheltered by hundred-year-old trees and the pilgrims from England. picturesque landscape. Choosing one of its hiking architectural gems such as the Collegiate church of routes is a good way to enjoy nature here. Santa María and the church of Santiago. GASTRONOMY MUSEUMS O Pasatempo. This park, located in the outskirts of A Coruña and As Mariñas bring together the best of Betanzos, was built by the García Naveira brothers, RÍAS ALTAS: both traditional and innovative Galician gastronomy.