Page 104 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

102  NOR THERN SP AIN

y Ourense
Ourense. * 106,000. £ @
n Isabel la Católica 2, 988 36 60 64.
( 7th, 17th & 26th of each month.
_ Os Maios (1–3 May), Fiestas de
Ourense (end Jun).
The old quarter of Ourense
was built around the city’s well-
known thermal springs, Fonte
das Burgas. Even today, these
spout water at a tem perature of
65°C (150°F) from three fountains.
This old part of the town is
the most interesting, particu larly
the small area around the
The outrageous costumes of arcaded Plaza Mayor. Here the
Os Peliqueiros in Laza cathedral, founded in 572 and
rebuilt in the 12th–13th centu-
Galicia’s Fiestas ries, has a vast gilded reredos Ornate Gothic reredos in the cathedral
by Cornelis de Holanda. On at Ourense
Os Peliqueiros (Carnival,
Feb/Mar), Laza (Ourense). the triple-arched doorway are u Monasterio de
carved figures reminiscent of
Dressed up in grinning masks the Pórtico da Gloria at Sant iago Ribas de Sil
and outlandish costumes, (see p96). Nearby is the elegant
with cowbells tied to their Ribas de Sil, Ourense. Tel 988 01 01 10.
belts and brandishing sticks, 14th-century cloister, the Open daily.
Claustro de San Francisco.
Os Peliqueiros take to the Another landmark is the 13th- Near its confluence with
streets on Carnival Sunday. century Puente Romano, a seven- the Miño, 28 km (17 miles)
They are licensed to lash arched bridge which crosses the from Ourense, the Río Sil
out at onlookers, who are Río Miño, north of the town. carves a deep curving gorge
forbidden to retaliate. On Built on Roman foundations, in which dams form two
Carnival Monday morning, a it is now pedestrianized. reservoirs of dark-green
battle takes place, with flour, water. A hairpin road winds
water and live ants used as Environs to the top of the gorge,
ammunition. Laza’s carnival The towns of Allariz, 25 km where the Romanesque
comes to an end on the (16 miles) south, and Ribadavia, Gothic Monasterio de Ribas
Tuesday with a reading of to the west, have old Jewish de Sil is situated high on
the satirical “Donkey’s Will” quarters with narrow streets a crag above the chasm.
and the burning of an effigy. and Romanesque churches. Restored and converted
Flower pavements (Corpus Ribadavia is also noted for its into a charming parador, it
Christi, May/Jun), Ponteareas Ribeiro wines – a dry white has an enormous glass wall
(Pontevedra). The streets of the and a port-like red (see pp82–3) in one of the three cloisters,
town along which the Corpus – and has a wine museum. and fine views.
Christi procession passes are
carpeted with intricate designs
made from brightly coloured
flower petals.
A Rapa das Bestas
(Jun–Aug), Oia (Pontevedra).
Semi-wild horses are rounded
up by local farmers for their
manes and tails to be cut.
What was once a chore is
now a popular fiesta.
St James’s Day (25 Jul),
Santiago de Compostela.
On the night before, there is a
firework display in the Praza
do Obradoiro. The celebrations
are especially wild in a holy
year (when 25 July falls on
a Sunday).
The Río Sil winding its way through the gorge
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p562 and pp582–3

102-103_EW_Spain.indd 102 26/09/17 11:00 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.1)
Date 5th December 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm