Information about Redondela
Redondela is a village in Pontevedra, very close to the city of Vigo and located on the Portuguese Way. This village has an excellent natural and cultural heritage full of magical, wild and protected spaces. Here you can enjoy art, architecture, churches, cathedrals, beaches or estuaries. A whole range of possibilities for the delight of travellers and pilgrims. As a curious fact, it takes its name from the shape it acquires by being surrounded by the sea and the mountains.
What to see and do in Redondela
The beach of Cesantes
It is inconceivable to pass through Redondela without going to one of its beautiful beaches and Cesantes is one of the most important. It is a sandy area of more than 2400 meters long, where the Archipelago of San Simón rests with the Bridge of Rande in the background. It has an impressive promenade and several hotels and restaurants where you can enjoy this privileged natural environment with all the services and with great comfort.
The Cove of San Simon
San Simón is an idyllic island steeped in history and easily accessible from Redondela. It shows the final inlet of the Vigo estuary, almost eight kilometres long. The plain is green and lush, which is discovered with the tides and is rich in seafood such as oysters and waterfowl Arcade, typical of this beautiful area of southern Galicia.
The maximum historical and cultural reference of the inlet is on the island of San Simón, which has an Interpretation Centre in which its long history is recounted, as well as the different uses from lazaretto to concentration camp. It’s visited mainly in summer and is an island that has no inhabitants, we could say that you have the opportunity to enjoy a deserted island paradise if you choose to make this beautiful excursion.
The Sobreira do Cristo de Arriba
This is a curiosity that is worth knowing when passing through the village. It is a singular tree in Reboreda, Redondela, 1.7 kilometres from the Camino. It is 17.8 meters high and its trunk is completely covered with cork. The top of the beautiful tree is 20 meters in diameter and is leaning due to a broken branch.
The church of Reboreda
In Santo Paio de Abaixo you can see the parish church of Santa María de Reboreda. It is a temple built in 1736 with a Latin cross floor plan and an adjoining sacristy. It has an elevated corridor that communicates with the neighbouring Pazo de Reboreda, as it served as a private chapel of the latter. It is also very interesting to contemplate as a whole. In the manor house you can see a plaque indicating that Xoán Manuel Pereira was born here. Ramón Otero Pedrayo immortalized him in the work “O Señorito da Reboraina”.
The petroglyphs of Poza da Lagoa
These petroglyphs are preserved in the vicinity of Monte Penide. These are the engravings of Pozo da Lagoa, in the parish of Trasmañó. They are located at an altitude of 340 metres and very close to the recreational area of the same name there is a group of five rocks decorated with different millenary motifs. It is an area of great historical interest, as in addition to these engravings can be seen the remains of marae that today are almost imperceptible and blend a little with the environment, surrounded by the outdoor picnic area.
The Auga Path
To continue enjoying the natural heritage of Redondela the ideal is to approach this leafy path with abundant native species of trees and shrubs typical of Galicia. These are signposted and supplied with interpretative panels, with rest areas and fountains along the route. This path passes through the municipalities of Fornelos de Montes, Soutomaior, Pazos de Borbén and Redondela before reaching Vigo.
