Page 62 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

60  NOR THERN SP AIN REGION B Y REGION

q Cabo Fisterra
A Coruña. Road Map A2. * 5,000.
£ @ n Rúa Real 2; 981 74 07 81.
( Tue, Fri. _ Virgen del Carmen
(8–10 Sep), Fiesta del Cristo (Easter
week). ∑ concellofisterra.com
Known in English as Finisterre,
and translated as “World’s End”,
this cape with fabulous views
was long considered to be
Continental Europe’s most
westerly point, though in fact
that distinction belongs to
Townscape overlooking the fishing port in Malpica Portugal. The lighthouse, on
the perilous Costa da Morte,
8 Betanzos legend has it that the church is a symbol of Galicia.
was linked with Mens castle A village of the same name
A Coruña. Road Map B1. * 13,500.
£ @ n Praza de Galicia; 981 77 by an underground tunnel. lies 3 km (2 miles) from the
66 66. ( Tue, Thu, Sat. _ Medieval Near Malpica is the partially cape. Nearby is the Roman­
Fair (2nd weekend Jul), San Roque destroyed Cerqueda dolmen. esque Iglesia de Santa María
(14–25 Aug). ∑ betanzos.es de las Arenas, with a figure
of the Santo Cristo da Barba
At the centre of this fascinating 0 Camariñas Dourada (Christ of the Golden
town is the Praza García A Coruña. Road Map A1. * 6,000. Beard). Before it stands a 15th­
Hermanos, an elegant 18th­ @ n Paseo Marítimo; 981 73 72 04. century cruceiro (stone cross).
century square. The steep ( Wed, Sat. _ Lace Festival (Easter), This is the last part of the Road
streets, which arose on the site Carmen (16 & 17 Jul). to Santiago – here pilgrims
of the former castro, are lined ∑ camarinas.net traditionally burn the clothes
with old houses and Gothic they wore on the pilgrimage.
churches. The tympa num of This pretty fishing town is known
the 15th­century Iglesia de for the bobbin lace that is manu­
Santiago is decorated with factured and sold here. In the
an equestrian figure of local 18th­century Iglesia
St James. Hidden de San Jorge is a valua­
inside the aisleless ble reredos sculpted by
14th­century Iglesia José Ferreiro bearing
de San Francisco are images of saints.
beautiful tombs, inc­
luding that of Count Environs
Fernán Pérez de Among the wild
Andrade, support ed landscape of the Cabo
on figures of a wild Iglesia de Santiago Vilán headland, 5 km
boar and a bear. The portal, Betanzos (3 miles) away, stands
Iglesia de Santa María a lighthouse with the
de Azogue, with a beautiful longest beam of all Galician
façade and rose window, has a lighthouses. Here, too, are wind A lighthouse on the treacherous Costa da
15th­century Flemish reredos. turbines for electricity. Morte at Cabo Fisterra

9 Malpica Costa da Morte
Between Cabo San Adrián, near
A Coruña. Road Map A1. * 6,000.
n Avenida Emilio González 1; 981 71 Malpica, and Fisterra headlands
14 62 (Jul–Sep only). _ San Adrián extends the “Coast of Death”, whose
grim name is due to the many ships
(16 Jun), Nuestra Señora del Mar (last that have been smashed against the
Sun Aug). ∑ concellomalpica.com
rocky shoreline over the centuries.
This small fishing town has The landscape here is characterized
good beaches and enchanting by a wild beauty; the steep cliffs, sea
views of the nearby Sisargas birds, stone cruceiros and gigantic
hórreos will long remain in the
islands – an important nature memory. At great risk, fishermen
reserve especially rich in birds. scour the coast for barnacles for Stone cruceiros on the Costa
Of interest is the Romanesque use in local cuisine. da Morte
Iglesia de Santiago de Mens;
For hotels and restaurants see p204 and pp216–17

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