Page 76 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

74  NOR THERN SP AIN REGION B Y REGION

d Tui Many archaeological finds
have been made here, includ ing
Pontevedra. Road Map A3. * 17,500. Roman walls. The hill has good
£ @ n Praza de San Fernando;
677 41 84 05. ( Thu. _ San Telmo observation points of the
(week after Easter), rafting along the Miño river valley.
Miño river (Aug). ∑ concellotui.org
As the inhabitants of Tui like f Ribadavia
to say, their small city is history Ourense. Road Map B3. * 5,500.
carved in stone. It lies on the £ @ n Praza Maior 7; 988 47 12 75.
Miño river, on the border with ( 10th and 25th of each month.
Portugal. The old quarter, with _ Feria del Vino del Ribeiro (4th week
its narrow streets and secret in Apr or 1st week in May), Virgen del
passageways, has arcaded Portal (early Sep). ∑ ribadavia.net
houses with coats of arms,
churches and former manor Set in a fertile valley, Ribadavia
houses. Rising above this is has for centuries produced
the fortress­like 12th­century A fountain in Tui along the border between Ribeiro wines. It was also once
Catedral de Santa María. Spain and Portugal home to a Sephardic commu­
The town’s defensive walls nity, and a walk through the
and battlements lend it the linked by the iron Puente Jewish quarter today is like
appearance of a fortress, and Internacional (1884), a bridge stepping back in time. The
indeed it performed this role by Gustave Eiffel, and by a modest houses, with perfectly
due to its border location. modern motorway bridge. preserved façades, conceal
The Torre Soutomaior affords former bodegas within their
a magnificent view over Tui, Environs walls. The Jewish Information
the river, and the Portuguese Not far from Tui is the hill of Centre, housed above the
town of Valença do Minho. Aloia – a park with a wide tourist information office, has
The banks of the Miño are variety of flora and fauna. information and exhibitions.
h The Miño River Valley 5 Mondariz
Known for the therapeutic waters
Covering 307 km (190 miles), the Miño is Galicia’s that spout from the Troncoso spring,
longest river. Its source is in the Sierra de Meira; this has been a popular meeting
it flows through the towns of Lugo and Ourense, place for intellec tuals, aristocrats
and politicians.
entering the Atlantic Ocean at A Guarda. The final
stretch is along the Portuguese border.
The Miño cuts through a beautiful Pontevedra Mondariz
landscape of steep valleys and
agricultural land as well as
vineyards, where crisp Ribeiro Vigo
white wines are produced.
Ponteareas
O Porriño

As Neves

1 Salvaterra de Miño Miño
Like the surrounding area, Tui
Salvaterra de Miño is dotted
with manor houses and Valença
remnants from the castros do Minho 2 Arbo This agricultural region,
period. It features a border dotted with traditional stone
fortress and a 16th­century Braga mansions (pazos), produces full­
church; in nearby Fillaboa there bodied wines. In April each year,
is a Roman bridge. Arbo hosts the festa da lamprea.

For hotels and restaurants see p204 and pp216–17

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