Vilagarcia de Arousa
Vilagarcia de Arousa is the largest town on the southerly coast of the ria de Arousa (bay) and faces Rianxo on the opposing coastline. It has a large marina with a promenade and a number
of café bars, most of which are housed in a new building facing the harbour. This area is busy with tourists and those porting their boats.
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Walking a few hundred metres from the port is a large beach which has an extensive stretch of sand behind it. The two are separated by a narrow grassy dune area running the length of the beach and the main town sits directly behind this arced beach. Access to the beach is across the mini dune, or by a timber boardwalk and the beach was busy when we were there at around lunchtime. By Galician terms the beach was nothing special with a coarse and shelly sand along with seaweed ridden water that was far from appealing. Other smaller beaches either side of Vilagarcia de Arousa are far better and worth the short drive it takes to reach them.
The town itself is neither good nor bad, but holds no medieval quarter and mixes low and
semi high rise buildings. There are a number of hotels and even a MacDonalds, but any tourist appeal lacks a Galicin flavour. What we assumed to be the alameda was a mainly paved area with some palms and a modern sculpture. It was set directly behind the marina.
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Vilagarcia de Arousa monastery and fortified pazo
Just when we thought Vilagarcia de Arousa had little more to offer (we were in fact driving
out of the town) we spotted a tower. Although no signs were visible we pulled up and decided to take a look.
The tower was actually part of a large fortified monastery and pazo (manor house)
with gates, stone carved coats of arms, towers, arches and all the trappings of a large monumental Galician building. As ever we arrived during afternoon siesta and the facility to enter the buildings was not available (it was closed), but from what we could ascertain you ring a bell and are then given a brief tour of the monastery. The monastery was certainly imposing and if you visit Vilagarcia de Arousa you should take a look.
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