Hotel Virgen del Camino Pontevedra
Pontevedra - Virgen del Camino, 53-55
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Pontevedra is a Galician town famous for its maritime and commercial traditions, nestled in the fjord of the same name, at the mouth of the River Lèrez. Its elegant historical centre bears many signs of the city’s history and has managed to preserve ‘the ancient urbe’, boasting an intricate network of stone-paved streets, lanes, squares and ancient churches.
Also nicknamed ‘the city of Lérez’, Pontevedra was founded by the Romans, who at the time called it first ‘Duos pontes’ and then ‘Pontis Veteris’ for the bridges that were built to cross the Lérez river. In the 15th century, the city became an important commercial centre with an active port, making it one of the main locations in Galicia. With time, however, Pontevedra lost its mercantile importance also due to civil wars.
In the last century, Pontevedra has conducted a major urban and cultural renovation project and has thus become one of Spain’s most accessible cities for the disabled. Its numerous restricted traffic areas and pedestrian zones won it the ‘Intermodes European Award for Urban Mobility’ in 2013. The city is also one of the stops on the Portuguese Way of St James, which, after passing through the cities of Lisbon and Porto, enters Galicia via Pontevedra.
Pontevedra boasts a cosy historic centre, on a human scale and rich in sites of interest. A city with a long maritime tradition, Pontevedra is a little gem that can be discovered pleasantly on foot thanks to its pedestrian areas. The heart of the old town is Piazza España, overlooked by the Town Hall, a building constructed in the 19th century. This is also the starting point of the Alameda, a charming promenade winding between elegant palaces, churches and shops.
Herrería Square is Pontevedra’s main square and is considered a meeting and gathering place for many locals. All around the square are several cafés, restaurants and a few shops. It is in this square that two sites of great interest in the city are located: the Church of the Pilgrim Virgin and the Convent of St. Francis. During different times of the year, shows and events are organised here. In the upper part there are gardens with the famous Fuente de la Herrería, a fountain serving water to pilgrims and travellers.
The heart of the old town is considered Plaza España, a pedestrian area overlooked by the Town Hall and other elegant buildings. The Town Hall is an elegant 19th-century building with a façade that has two orders and is punctuated by four pairs of columns. The central doorway is decorated with a pediment, while a balcony surmounted by a clock stands on the second floor.
The Church of the Pilgrim Virgin (Iglesia de la Virgen Peregrina) is a Baroque religious building that is the only Spanish church with a unique shell shape. The building has a rounded façade flanked by two towers. Built between 1778 and 1782, the church immediately became a pilgrimage destination and is dedicated to the Pilgrim Virgin who is said to watch over those who walk the Pilgrim’s Way from Lisbon. Inside, there is a single nave ending in the sacristy and a neoclassical altarpiece made in 1789 by Melchor de Prado. On the outside, three images depict the Virgin, Santiago and San José wearing pilgrim robes.
The Basilica of St. Mary Major is considered the most important religious site in Galicia, so much so that it has been declared a historical artistic monument. The building, erected between 1500 and 1559, is Gothic in style with a Renaissance façade and several elements taken from 16th-century Portuguese architectural style.
Inside is an altarpiece in chestnut and walnut wood from the 19th century and the statue of the Christ of the Good Journey, to whom the faithful turn when about to embark on a journey. Next to the Basilica, you can admire the remains of the medieval walls.
To find out more about the history of these territories, a visit to the Pontevedra Museum is not to be missed. The museum site is actually divided between five different locations: the Convent of Santo Domingo, Sarmiento Palace, Castro Monteagudo Palace, García Flórez Palace and Fernández López Palace.
Castro Monteagudo and García Flórez are two united buildings that contain artefacts of ancient archaeology as well as objects and jewellery from the Roman and medieval periods. These are joined by works of Spanish, Italian and Flemish paintings from the 15th to 18th centuries, ceramics from Sargadelos and religious sculptures.
Also on the same square is the Fernández López Palace, which houses works of 19th and 20th century Spanish painting. The Sarmiento Palace, on the other hand, houses creations of contemporary Galician painting, while the Convent of Santo Domingo holds important exhibits such as Romanesque and Gothic capitals, medieval carvings, sarcophagi and tombstones.
The Church of St. Francis was built between the 14th and 15th centuries in Gothic style. Externally, there is a Gothic façade with a portal with pointed archways. The building has a Latin cross plan with a single nave, transept and three polygonal apses covered by cross vaults. Inside is the tomb of Admiral and poet Payo Gómez Chamiro, who is considered to be the one who liberated Seville from the Moors in 1248.
Adjacent to the church is the Convent of St Francis, which was built in the 14th century as the seat of the mendicant orders of Franciscan monks.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Pontevedra is a town that has always stood out for its enormous hospitality. Pilgrims, families, groups of young people or couples on holiday: everyone in Pontevedra can find the accommodation that best suits their budget and needs. The best area in which to sleep is definitely the historic centre, where the city’s main sites of interest and numerous restaurants where you can enjoy Galician cuisine can be found.
The location of the city of Pontevedra, situated in the north-west of Spain, makes it an accessible destination both by car and public transport. The nearest airport is that of Vigo, which is 30 km from the city and is connected to it by both bus and train lines. Another airport is Rosalia de Castro in Santiago, which is 74 km away and is connected to the city by bus routes.
The city of Pontevedra also has a railway station located close to the historic centre and boasts connections to many cities in Galicia. Those wishing to reach the city by car can use the AP-9/N-55 motorway or the A-52. Many also reach Pontevedra on foot as the city is a stop on the Portuguese Way of St. James.
What's the weather at Pontevedra? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Pontevedra for the next few days.
Pontevedra is a small town in north-west Spain that falls within the territories of the Autonomous Community of Galicia. The city is 30 km from Vigo, 63 km from Santiago de Compostela and 117 km from Ourense.
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