14 places to see on the coast of Lugo (besides Playa de las Catedrales)

If you are a regular reader of Travel Guides, you already know that we are passionate about Galicia and the Spanish Cantabrian coast, where we usually travel several times a year.

And you surely know that one of the most famous and visited places is the Beach of the Cathedrals, In Lugo coast.

But we recently learned that, on the other hand, the Lugo coast, where this popular tourist beach is located, is one of the least-known areas in Spain.

And the truth is that until now we only knew this beach and some other specific place like Mondoñedo o Mouth.

Where is A Mariña Lucense and what is it like?

Now we have had the opportunity to make a trip to visit the coast of Lugo, and discover this region, home to beautiful beaches, natural landscapes, and towns with remarkable historical heritage.

After this trip, we are going to propose a route through this area of ​​northern Spain which is very worthwhile to visit, and where you will hardly find any tourist concentration except during very specific times, such as summer or Easter.

Before starting the route, you should know that we are talking about the region called To Mariña, which covers the entire north of the province of Lugo, between Asturias and the province of A Coruña.

Specifically, the Cantabrian coast, between the estuaries of Ribadeo and Vicedo, and towards the interior the limit is marked by the mountain ranges of O Xistral, Pousadoiro and Lourenzá.

In total, in the region of A Mariña Lucense They are concentrated in up to 16 municipalities, among which we must undoubtedly highlight the following: historical sites of Viveiro, Mondoñedo, Ribadeo and Sargadelos.

It is also worth noting that this area of ​​Lugo is part of the Way of Santiago del Norte, Which together with the Cathedral Basilica of Mondoñedo are declared World Heritage awarded by the Unesco.

This is the experience of visiting A Mariña, the coast of Lugo

La route that we propose to you from our experience It will run from east to west, starting in the Ribadeo estuary, on the border with Asturias, and ending inland, after reaching the western limit, in the Vicedo estuary.

This route is suitable for a 3-day getaway or a week-long vacation.

Ribadeo and its Indianos Route

El town of Ribadeo It is one of the aforementioned artistic groups found in A Mariña.

It is one of the stages of the Way of Santiago del Norte, and on your walk you will find two different areas.

On one hand, the San Roque neighborhood, where several Indian houses with their modernist architecture are concentrated, and on the other hand, you must go down towards the port to walk through the streets of the old fishermen's quarter, where you will now see houses with colorful, emblazoned facades.

The heart of Ribadeo is the Plaza del Campo or Plaza de España, where the stately Town Hall building is located, as well as the convento of Santa Clara and Church of Santa Maria del Campo.

The port located on the banks of the estuary now only has leisure boats, and near it you can now also see the Cargadoiro, an old loading bay for the iron rides, as well as the remains of the San Damiano Fort, XNUMXth century.

Playa de las Catedrales, a great landscape monument

It's really about the Auga Santa beach, and the name of Beach of the Cathedrals It is a mention that was made in its day by the former president Calvo Sotelo, who used to visit Ribadeo.

This beach has gained fame thanks to its enormous arches carved into the cliff, up to 30 meters high, which you can see during a walk along the sand that opens up at low tide.

Given its tourist appeal, access has been limited for several years during Holy Week and the summer months, and you'll find numerous visitors at any time of year during low tide.

Here you have more information for visit the Playa de las Catedrales.

Os Castros Beach, a hidden gem in Ribadeo

We will tell you that near this very touristy beach indicated only for walking, you have a beach with a special attraction, that of Os Castros.

This beach, rarely visited by tourists, is only accessible during low tide, and you'll reach it through an easily accessible cave.

Pancha Island Lighthouse in Ribadeo

Near Ribadeo it is well worth visiting the enclave of Pancha Island Lighthouse.

Of the charm of this landscape, I will only tell you that we have often used its image to promote our own blog.

Currently in the building of this lighthouse is a tourist establishment with two apartments where you can stay.

Vilanova de Lourenzá and the monastery of San Salvador

Following the route, after passing through Foz and its estuary, you will reach Vilanova de Lourenzá, where you will find one of the most interesting monuments in the region.

I mean the monastery of San Salvador, founded in the 10th century, which gained greater popularity from the 17th century onwards.

Here you must visit their church of Santa Maria whose facade was made by Fernando de Casas Novoa as a test to make the facade of the Obradoiro of Santiago de Compostela.

But it is inside where you will find the most important and surprising artistic corners.

Specifically, the impressive baroque reliquary which is located in the sacristy, and the sarcophagus of Count Osorio Gutiérrez, a 7th century early Christian work made in French Aquitaine, one of the most important pieces of the Camino de Santiago.

To visit the church you can sign up for the guided tours that every day of the week they take place at 12 noon, except on Sundays, and for which you must make an advance reservation.

The monastery building is currently the headquarters of the Lourenzá Town Hall, and as a curiosity, in its old stables you can visit the Faba Interpretation Center, well you should know that the valley where this town is located has a large production of beans that are sold throughout Spain.

Mondoñedo and its cathedral, episcopal seat

Very close to Vilanova is Mondoñedo, the most important place in the region from the point of view of political and ecclesiastical power.

At the outset you should know that Mondoñedo It was the capital of one of the seven provinces of ancient Kingdom of Galicia, and it has been an episcopal seat since the 12th century, now shared with Ferrol.

When you arrive in Mondoñedo, don't expect to find a large town. While it had 1900 inhabitants in 11.000, today it only has 3.300.

The heart of Mondoñedo and the axis of your visit will be its very beautiful Plaza Mayor, with the imposing cathedral that, as I have mentioned, is declared a World Heritage Site Heritage.

On your visit to the Cathedral of the Assumption, right off the bat it will catch your attention large Gothic rose window of the main facade.

Once inside, the most notable thing is the two corners where you can see some Gothic paintings that are still preserved, the 18th century altarpiece newly opened, and the paintings from the same period found on the ceiling.

Other cultural enclaves that you can visit in Mondoñedo are the curious Printing Press Interpretation Center, where you can see old machinery, and the Álvaro Cunqueiro House Museum.

To complete your visit you can walk through the artisanal neighborhood of Os Muiños, where several artisan shops are located.

Also noteworthy is the medieval festival which is celebrated every year in the summer in Mondoñedo, which I have had the opportunity to visit, and I can tell you that it is a great spectacle that is experienced with compassion for the entire town.

Castrodouro Castle in Alfoz

In this region north of Lugo, you also have the chance to see a castle.

Or rather, the old keep of a fortress that was built on a Romanized fort from the 1st century.

This fortification has its origins in a 9th century monastery, which was fortified and later became an episcopal residence until it was abandoned in the 17th century.

Over time it passed into the hands of the Alfoz City Council, and during the last century it was the headquarters of the Town Hall.

Today, this completely renovated tower, located next to a chapel, houses the tourist office and temporary exhibition halls.

Burela, the fishing port tradition

Of course, in this coastal area a visit to a town that reflects the best fishing tradition.

This is the case of Burella, whose fishing port is the most important in Galicia after the port of Vigo, ahead of that of A Coruña.

Currently, this port has around 70 deep-sea and inshore vessels and has a long tradition of bonito fishing.

Burella it was in whaling port very important in the 60th century, and the bonito fishing activity had its greatest boom between the 80s and XNUMXs of the last century.

Your visit to Burela should focus on the visit of the wooden bonito boat which is preserved as a museum.

I can tell you in advance that it's one of the most interesting and interesting visits you can make in this area, and one you'll surely remember over time.

It is a tour which is done in one hour during which Linen, the brilliant guide who carries it out, allows you to get to know the tour in depth. tradition of the Cantabrian fishermen, touring the different corners of the ship, in what becomes an immersive visit.

At the entrance of the port you have a small office where you can book these visits.

As a complement, in front you have Moncloa, the small building that houses the veteran fishermen's association.

You're sure to see one of them chatting in the lounge, and if you're up for it, they'll show you the small museum with artifacts from the fishing boats and tell you about the life of deep-sea fishermen.

As a curiosity, the luxury super yacht of one of the technological oligarchs of the United States, the catamaran, has been built in the current shipyards of the port of Burela. Nebula de Bill Gates.

Foz and the oldest cathedral in Spain

En Mouth is the Basilica of San Martiño de Mondoñedo, considered the oldest cathedral in Spain.

Of pre-Romanesque origin, it preserves Lombard Romanesque elements unique in Galicia.

As a curiosity, in the 9th century it was a double episcopal see, on the one hand, of the Portuguese bishopric of Dumio, which was fleeing from the Vikings, and on the other hand, of the bishopric transferred from Bretonnia, which was fleeing from the Muslims.

Paper Cliffs in Xove

A very curious corner of this coastal region of Lugo is the area known as the Paper Cliffs, located in the town of young.

This is an area where the former is located last whaling port in the Cantabrian Sea, with a whaling factory that was built in 1965 and was active until 1977.

On your entrance visit you will be able to see a curious breakwater with dolos, reinforced concrete rock structures with a curious shape that allows them to intertwine, thereby protecting the port area.

These breakwaters were built in 1976 to meet the need to construct a port to protect a new aluminum company.

From this port you can ascend by a path to the top of what are known as Paper Cliffs, a name that is due to the unique landscape resulting from the natural effect of waves on granite stones.

Sargadelos. the tradition of ceramics

Surely you will know the name of sargadelos, name of a famous ceramic produced in this area of ​​Galicia.

In your route through the Mariña Lucense you can sign up for one tour to learn about this tradition, where you can walk through the remains of the old factory from the late 18th century.

It was an industrial complex project promoted by the well-known Marquis of Sargadelos, a character who, as a curiosity, although that title was granted to him by the king Charles IV, he never assumed it because he was an enlightened person.

On your visit you will walk through the remains of the original factory from the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and through a pleasant place known as the Lovers' Walk, where you can see enormous eucalyptus trees and reach a large artificial waterfall from 1791.

La current Sargadelos ceramic factory It was built in 1968 with a style building Bauhaus.

Viveiro, walled medieval center

With almost 16.000 inhabitants today, Nursery It is a historic site that is essential to visit during your route through its walled medieval center.

During the aforementioned medieval period, this town had up to six gates in its walls, several examples of which still remain.

Specifically, during your walk you will be able to see, for example, the Carlos V Gate, an iconic image of Viveiro, which you will pass by if you arrive to the town by the Bridge of Mercy from the 16th century that crosses the estuary to reach the Plaza Mayor.

Now, our advice is to start the visit by going up to the San Roque viewpoint, an enclave located on a hill above the town, from where you have spectacular views panoramic views of the Viveiro estuary and its surroundings.

In the historic center, which was surrounded by the wall, you can still see some walled areas, specifically in the area known as the Nuns' Passage, where you'll also pass through a small medieval gate.

On your walk you will also see the well-known Gate of the Villa, which historically was the main access to Viveiro.

Inside the convent and church of San Francisco, where you can see a permanent exhibition of Holy Week figures, a festival of great tradition in Viveiro.

Another emblematic place is the Santa María del Campo Square, having a Romanesque church and a former convent, buildings that make up the historical complex.

You can complete the visit by walking through the streets of the old fishermen's quarter.

Punta Fuciño do Porco in Vicedo

Very close to Viveiro, in the municipality of Vicero, you can visit a scenic enclave that has become very fashionable in recent times.

This is the Funciño do Porco Point, an emblematic place in the Mariña Lucense.

To visit this place, through a narrow dirt track you will reach a parking lot located where in the past there was a Industrial loading dock, loading dock used for the transport of iron.

From there, you'll have to walk a couple of kilometers until you reach the point, a place with a pair of rocky promontories at the edge of the coast along which a walkway runs.

The recent popularity of the spot as a photo op has meant that during holiday periods such as Easter and the months of July and August, capacity is limited to 70 people every 45 minutes.

Since December 2023, access has been closed due to landslides, given the highly unstable terrain and the mineral extraction area.

The forecast is that it will reopen to the public in the fall, and from then on you will be able to do the Book your visit on the Vicedo tourism website.

Xestosa River Waterfall in Ourol

Another corner of nature that you can include in your route is the Xestosa River Waterfall, perhaps the most beautiful of the various waterfalls in this region of Lugo.

Located in a natural area of ​​the town of OurolTo reach the waterfall, you will have to leave your car on the side of the road and take a walk along a path that runs through a wooded area.

Following the riverbed with the roar of several waterfalls, you'll reach the waterfall, which is 20 meters high, and during the rainy season its mighty waters create a loud roar.

Where to sleep on the coast of Lugo

When preparing for your getaway, you should know that in the A Mariña region There is a wide range of accommodation, from hotels to tourist apartments.

Based on our experience, we're going to recommend three hotels where we've stayed with satisfaction, with distinct locations and features.

• Hotel Rías Altas In Barreiros, near the Playa de las Catedrales, a pleasant family establishment with excellent service
• Hotel Malates In Foz, a very cozy boutique hotel located in a rural setting on the banks of the Foz estuary
• Urban Hotel In Viveiro, a very good urban hotel in the historic center and on the banks of the estuary

Map of the Lugo Coast Route

Below you have the map of the route that we propose for you A Mariña region that runs through the coast and the interior of the north of the province of Lugo.