Galicia Tourist Guide 2018

Santa Comba de Bande church

There are many corners of Galicia that we invite you to discover. A predominantly rural land, you need only to visit its towns and villages to see churches, monasteries, petroglyphs, hórreos , pazos , and mills, all of which are true hidden treasures. HIDDEN HERITAGE

Ourense: enchanted stones

You will begin your journey in AMerca where you can see the coun- try's largest concentration of hórre- os . Used to store agricultural har- vests, these 34 granaries are all built the same: with a stone foundation, wooden body, and tiled roof. All built facing the same direction, they cre- ate a sort of unique ethnographic set . On your way to Celanova, you should stop off at Vilanova dos Infantes , a small medieval town with cobblestone streets and traditional, stately homes. On the upper end of the city looms the tower of a castle , as well as a well-preserved Romanesque church.

The imposing impressive façades of the church and the Monastery of San Salvador lead into Celanova's main plaza. Practically next door is the one-of-a-kind Mozarab Chapel of Saint Michael ; its small size will certainly draw your attention. Continuing South, youwill hit Bande , which is known for its 7th century Visigoth temple of Santa Comba . Next to it is the Pociño dos Namo- rados , a fountain with waters that le- gends claim create love. In Lobios you will find the Baroque church of San Salvador de Manín , which was moved twice, stone by stone, once in the 18th century and

again in the 20th century. Nearby, in the municipality of Muíños, is As Maus de Salas , which has various megalithic burials or dolmens. A trip to Allariz will take you back to medieval times. Its quaint his- toric centre is dominated by build- ings made from stone and wood. While you're there, make sure to catch a bite to eat in one of the res- taurants that overlooks the Arnoia River. In the municipality of Maceda is one of Galicia's most impressive castles . It bears witness to the various inva- sions that took place during the Mid- dle Ages.

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