Baiona
The Royal Town of Baiona is one of Galicia’s most splendid historical and tourist destinations, as well as a key landmark on the Portuguese Coastal Way. Its name was etched forever into world history on 1 March 1493, when the caravel La Pinta, captained by Martín Alonso Pinzón, docked in its harbour, making this town the first settlement in the Old World to learn of the discovery of the Americas (a milestone that is now commemorated by its famous floating museum and the hugely popular Festa da Arribada) . Baiona’s skyline is majestically dominated by the Fortaleza de Monterreal, an imposing medieval walled complex with over three kilometres of walkable ramparts, which today houses the Parador de Turismo. At its feet lies a charming historic centre with cobbled streets, granite arcades and Romanesque churches such as the former collegiate church of Santa María. Guarded from above by the colossal sculpture of the Virgin of the Rock, Baiona perfectly combines its rich maritime heritage, its vibrant cuisine based on local seafood, and idyllic beaches that look directly out towards the Cíes Islands National Park.