Within the provence of Pontevedra there’s a municipality called Vilaboa, a destination where a perfect mix of nature and patrimony come together to create the perfect place for you to enjoy your holiday.
Situated in the Rías Baixas in the region of Pontevedra, its location between the Vigo and Pontevedra rivers from the Rande stretch to Ponte Sampaio is what sets its location apart.
Being home to the Cotorredondo and the Ensenada de San Simón National Parks it’s a very eco-friendly environment, ideal if you want to enjoy a day at the beach with the family with a ton of activities on offer to ensure there’s never a dull moment.
Travelling to Vilaboa means immersing yourself in the culture, history and patrimony that the over 6,000 habitants that reside here get to enjoy every day. Its map can be divided up between the following parish churches: Bértola, Cobres, Figuerido, Santa Cristina de Cobres and Vilaboa.
What is there to see in Vilaboa? It’s a destination where you’ll be able to enjoy a vast historical and artistic patrimony where you can admire its history through monuments that make its town centre.
In terms of the religious patrimony there are several references dotted about different parts of the town. One of them is the San Martín de Vilaboa church, whose construction started in 1387 although it has been added to twice since.
Another two temples that really stand out are the San Adrián de Cobres church, which has also been remodelled a few times near the fishing port, and the Santa Cristina de Cobres church. Another interesting visit is the Town Hall.
In terms of its natural spaces there are for you to explore we would highly recommend the Lake and Castiñeiras viewpoint in the park where you’ll get some amazing views of a completely natural landscape where the Ensenada de San Simón and the Arousa River can be observed. Not too far from the lake you’ll find the Mámoa do Reí in the spectacular esplanade of Chan de Castiñeiras, where a spectacular collection of megalithic monuments can be observed.
The salt lakes of Ulló originate back to the 17th century and in present is a ZEPA zone which is a protected area by the European Union with the intention of bird conservation that we highly recommend you visit. Furthermore, it’s here where you’ll find the best hiking routes. A few routes that are worth taking a look at are Petroglifos de Cobres, a circular route of 3 kilometres, perfect for doing as a family, and the Ruta dos Muiños which is 5 kilometres there and back.
After getting to know the area, it’s time to soak up a bit of its folklore during the festivities. The most famous is the Carnaval de Cobres and is very popular amongst visitors. It’s celebrated in two parish churches and has medieval roots. How do you get here? If you want to visit during festival season or during any other time of the year the best way to do it is to come by car and that way you can discover hidden gems nearby as well.
In order to see everything without having to hurry, the best thing you can do is rent a holiday cottage in Vilaboa, some are even in what were once authentic traditional Gallican houses. Any time is the perfect time to book a few nights in Pontevedra.
