Festa do Mexillón – FMB | Vilanova de Arousa

The essentials

Tourist Information Office

The Mar de Santiago Ferry Terminal houses the Vilanova de Arousa Tourist Information Office. Here you can check all the details about the points of interest in the municipality, as well as details about the leisure options available in the area.
In addition to receiving information about the different activities that are available, you can also purchase tickets for boat tours: both tours around the Ría de Arousa and the Traslatio trip, discovering the only sea-river Way of the Cross in the world.

The tourist information office is open between the months of June and September. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Sundays it caters to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

In addition, Vilanova de Arousa also has a permanent tourist information point in the Valle Inclán House-Museum. It is open all year round and the opening hours for visitors are from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday, and on Sundays, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The facilities are closed every Monday.

Cálogo Tower

This unique tower is the only surviving remains of the ancient Benedictine Monastery of San Cipriano de Cálogo. It was founded in the 17th century by St. Fructuosus and was besieged by the Normans between the 9th and 10th centuries.
Made up of granite ashlars and with a square base, at the top of the construction you can see part of a belfry with two semicircular arches, where two bells would be located. In addition, you can still visit the remains of an external staircase that was designed to access the bell tower.

Its unique location, on the highest part of a hill and separated from what would be the structure of the old monastery, leads us to think that it was a purely defensive structure. Another singularity about this enclave is its link with the Camino de Santiago, in view of the discovery of a document dated from the year 884. It records a donation to the monastery and specifically mentions the pilgrims of Compostela. This has become, therefore, the oldest reference so far along the region’s Jacobean Routes.

Valle-Inclán House-Museum

If Vilanova de Arousa is known for anything, it is for its status as the birthplace of the extraordinary writer Ramón María del Valle-Inclán. In the heart of the municipal capital is the Casa do Cuadrante, the place where the writer was born on October 28, 1866, and where he lived for the first years of his life.
It has now been converted into the Valle-Inclán House-Museum. The building, surrounded by an impressive and leafy garden, consists of a large exhibition area that was recently renovated.

The visit begins on the ground floor with an exhibition room where we will review the life and work of the writer, as well as the historical events that took place throughout his life (1866-1936). You will also be able to see first editions of his works and official documents that prove his birth in Vilanova de Arousa.

On the upper floor, there are the different rooms of the house, and you can also see a small projection where Valle-Inclán appears with the painter Julio Romero de Torres and a radio recording with the author’s own voice reading a fragment of Autumn Sonata. On this same floor, you will find various objects that belonged to the creator of the Grotesque.

Admission to the museum varies between €3 (general price) and €1.5o (for visitors aged 13 to 18 and over 65, in addition to the special price for pilgrims and groups). Children under 12 years old can enter for free.

This same spot is included in the urban Valle-Inclán itinerary. This features a complete tour of different buildings, both ecclesiastical and civil, which allows you to follow in Valle-Inclán’s footsteps around the municipality.

The Valle-Inclán House-Museum has a tourist information point throughout the year. Here you can learn about everything that Vilanova de Arousa has to offer.

Camba Brothers House-Museum

Vilanova de Arousa is a land of writers, and this is also demonstrated by the brothers Francisco and Julio Camba. In honour of these two outstanding figures of journalism and letters, the Camba Brothers House-Museum has been created, located in the Vilamaior neighbourhood; it is the starting point of the cultural route called Julio Camba’s Vilanova.
The building that houses the museum space was the former residence of the brothers. This traditional-style construction stands out for its entrance with a stone staircase leading up to a landing. On the façade, you can see the noble coat of arms of the family.

The renewed collection of the House-Museum is made up of information panels that feature a complete tour of the career of both brothers. In addition, you can see different objects of great value, such as first editions of their works, as well as newspaper clippings, manuscripts, photographs and brochures, and even objects that these authors used on a daily basis.

General admission costs €3 (general rate), although discounts are offered for people between 13 and 18 years old and over 65, for a price of €1.50. This same rate is applicable to groups and pilgrims visiting the town. Admission is free for children under 12 years old.

Pazo Vista Real

Located in the parish of Caleiro, this manor house dating from the eighteenth century stands out for its extraordinary location and its natural environment. From the top of the hill on which it is located, you can enjoy beautiful views of the Ría de Arousa, being an exceptional viewpoint 5 minutes by car from the municipal capital of Vilanova.
The architectural complex stands out for the building itself, a chapel, a small square and an annex building. Renovated in the past, the property is currently intended for municipal use and houses an employment workshop, as well as different offices of Vilanova Town Council. According to popular memory, the pazo had a magnificent library, now disappeared, which is said to be buried in the southeastern part of the estate.

The Pazo Vista Real has an area of almost 39,000 square metres, of which 2.5 hectares are dedicated to vineyards of the Rías Baixas Designation of Origin. In addition, the enclosure stands out for its large gardens, formerly full of orange trees, camellias and centenary trees. Not all of them remain today, but several large magnolia trees can still be found.

The tour of the gardens, ideal for a pleasant walk, will take you to two beautiful ponds, located at the main entrance of the enclosure. In addition, you can find a kind of pergola -where the classic wedding photos were taken before- which adorns an old playground, dating from the eighteenth century.

Beaches of O Terrón and As Sinas

If sun and beach are your thing, at Vilanova de Arousa we have a lot to offer you. The two main sandy areas are those of O Terrón and As Sinas. The first is just a stone’s throw from the municipal capital, which you will access by crossing the pedestrian walkway that connects the Port of Vilanova de Arousa with this beach, either on foot or by bicycle. This sandy area stands out for its almost 3 kilometres of fine golden sand and its calm waters, which make it ideal to enjoy with kids.
For its part, As Sinas Beach is located a couple of kilometres from the town centre of Vilanova. It is one of the best-known beaches in the municipality and attracts many bathers during the summer season. In fact, it has numerous services in its vicinity, including eating and accommodation establishments.

In addition to offering you great views of the Arousa estuary, characterised by the silhouette of mussel platforms, you can also enjoy different types of water sports on these two beaches. Among them, paddle surfing, kayaking, or the traditional pedal boats.

Viewpoints of Faro das Lúas and Cruz de Lobeira

If you really want to enjoy incredible views, the must-see is the viewpoints of Faro das Lúas and Cruz de Lobeira. Located less than 8 kilometres from the town centre – about 15 minutes by car – they offer exceptional panoramic views of both the Ría de Arousa and the Salnés Valley and the Rías Baixas.
Both viewpoints are located on Monte Lobeira, but at different heights. The first one you will find will be the Faro das Lúas, which stands out for a unique metal sculpture that symbolizes the different lunar phases and sits on a stone tower. In the surroundings of this viewpoint you can make a small stop for lunch, as it has stone benches and tables, as well as a large wooded area. At the highest point, almost 300 meters above sea level, is the Cruz de Lobeira Viewpoint. This enclave stands out for having a monument to the victims of the sea, symbolized by a large metal cross, accompanied by a plaque of the British Admiralty, in honour of the sailors who died as a result of the sinking of the training ship Serpent. From here you can see, on a clear day, the island of Ons, the isthmus of O Grove, the Salnés Valley and even the Sierra del Barbanza mountain range.
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