Page 58 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

56  NOR THERN SP AIN REGION B Y REGION

and a figure of the Virgin
brought here from St Paul’s
Cathedral in London. Its Museo
Diocesano has works by
Zurbarán and El Greco, and the
18th-century Palacio Episcopal
contains a Neo-Gothic chapel.
Nearby is the Fonte Vella, a
16th-century fountain decor-
ated with the coat of arms of
Charles V; beyond it extends
the old Jewish quarter.
E Museo Diocesano
Plaza de la Catedral. Tel 982 52 10 06.
Amazing rock formations at the beach Praia das Catedrais, near Ribadeo Open 10am–2pm & 4:30–6pm Tue–
Sun. & 8
1 Ribadeo 10 km (6 miles) west of Ribadeo
is the fishing town of Foz, which
Lugo. Road Map C1. * 10,000. 3 Viveiro
n Rúa Dionisio Gamallo Fierros 7; also has fine beaches. Nearby is
982 12 86 89. ( Wed. _ San Roque the Romanesque Iglesia de San Lugo. Road Map C1. * 16,000.
(16 Aug), Santa Maria del Campo Martín de Mondoñedo. n Avda Ramón Canosa s/n; 982 56
(8 Sep). ∑ ribadeo.org 08 79. ( Thu; 1st day and 3rd Sun of
Galicia’s north coast, between 2 Mondoñedo the month. _ Semana Santa (week
preceding Easter Sun), Rapa das
Ribadeo and Ferrol, is an area Lugo. Road Map C1. * 3,900. Bestas (1st Sun in Jul), San Roque and
of natural beauty known as the n Plaza de la Catedral 34; 982 50 71 Nuestra Señora (week of 15 Aug).
Rías Altas, formed from ría inlets 77. ( Thu & Sun. _ As Quendas ∑ viveiro.es
and beautiful bays. The character- (1 May), Rapa das Bestas (Jun), Fiestas
ful fishing town of Ribadeo, with Patronales (2nd Sun in Sep), As San Situated on the beautiful ría of
its attractive harbour, occupies Lucas (18 Oct). ∑ mondonedo.net the same name, Viveiro is the
a pic turesque setting on the prettiest and most popular
banks of the Ría de Ribadeo. Situated in a valley, this was town in the Rías Altas, with
Among the many observation the provincial capital for nearly good hotels and restaurants.
points here are the hill of Santa four centuries, and as a result Fragments of its medieval walls
Cruz, with its monument of a has an unusual number of fine survive – their most beautiful
piper, and La Atalaya, formerly buildings for such a small town. feature is the Plateresque Gate
a bastion. The beach at Praia Its oldest monument is the of Charles V, by Maestro Pedro
das Catedrais is known for its 13th-century Romanesque Poderoso. It is decorated with
rock formations that recall Catedral de la Asunción, which coats of arms, medallions and
Gothic buildings and arches. was remodelled during the an image of St Roch, the town’s
The waters of the ría can be Gothic and Baroque periods. patron saint. Facing the gate is
explored by pleasure boat from It features 14th-century murals the 15th-century bridge, Ponte
the nearby haven of Porcillán. de la Misericordia.
The town itself is home to the Of note is the Romanesque
Colegiata de Santa María del Iglesia de Santa María del
Campo (18th century), with Campo, with a Baroque belfry
two Baroque altar pieces. and a 19th-century clock tower.
Inside are earlier elements – The Romanesque-Gothic
Romanesque arches and two Iglesia de San Francisco has
Gothic portals with plant a beautiful apse. On the Praza
orna mentation. Another Maior, where a cheese and
attraction is the Modernist vegetable market is held each
residence of the brothers Thursday, stands the town
Moreno, which recalls the hall, with a sundial and 17th-
work of Antoni Gaudí. and 19th-century houses.
Nearby rises the Renaissance
Environs Casa de los Leones, with
North of Ribadeo lies the lions on the coat of arms.
18th-century fort of San The district of Covas
Damián, which once borders a long white beach.
defended the mouth of the The hill of San Roque
ría. It is now a municipal overlooks the town and
exhibition space. About The portal of San Martín de Mondoñedo offers fine views.
For hotels and restaurants see p204 and pp216–17

056-057__cat_.indd 56 13/09/16 5:29 pm