2 September 2022

Spain – Galicia – Lugo – Ribadeo & Lóngara Beach

We arrived at Ribadeo in Galicia early in the morning, we parked in the harbour and took a lift to the old town. Ribadeo is the capital of the Mariña Oriental region, also called Enriba do Eo (above the Eo river). We took the lift to the old town and the first thing we saw was the Atalaia Chapel from the 12th century, the most significant religious building and the oldest in town.

Then we arrived at Plaza de Espana around which stand buildings that will walk you through Ribadeo's history: the neoclassical Pazo de Ibañez, the cosmopolitan de Los Moreno Tower, the sober convent of Santa Clara and the parish church Santa María del Campo, whose origins go back to an ancient 13th-century Franciscan monastery. We went to the tourist office in the square where they gave us a map of the town and we saw two Giants!

Santa Maria del Campo Church — Santa María del Campo Church

We went down the pedestrian road, one of the busiest streets in Ribadeo, concentrating countless shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants. At the end of the road, we reached one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in Ribadeo, the Barrio Indiano de San Roque, known for concentrating the largest number of Indian mansions in the region. These residences were built by wealthy returning emigrants from America called Indianos. From here we went to the old town declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, the current urban landscape of the old town is varied: emblazoned palaces stand side-to-side with simple constructions. And from there we went back down in the lift to the harbour.

As it was early we decided to drive to a spot near a beach called "Praia de Lóngara" and pass the famous Las Catedrales beach along the way. The Catedrales beach was full of people and impossible to park there, so we kept on going to our beach, which turnout to be a really nice place, with bars and restaurants and the best dog beach we have seen, with fine sand and caves in the rocks. I had a super yummy strawberry caipirinha and Asha had an amazing time playing and swimming. A perfect place to sleep with the waves sound and wake up with amazing views.