Home Activities Barbanza, megalithic art between two seas
We invite you to discover the Sierra del Barbanza in a 4x4, a journey through time where history and mythology intertwine...Did you know that among its cliffs and brañas (high mountain meadows) you can find the most striking and best-preserved megalithic complex in Galicia?
But beyond the archaeological heritage, Barbanza is a way of life, where man lives in balance with the environment. Small communities anchored in the past, unclaimed livestock grazing freely under the watchful eye of the wolf.
Barbanza is a unique space that offers us a privileged view of the Ria de Muros y Noia, Costa da Morte and Rias Baixas from its peaks, Pico Iroite (685 m) and Alto da Curota (618 m). An unparalleled vantage point between two seas described by Valle Inclán as "the observatory that offers the best views of the Rias Bajas and Galicia."
We begin our itinerary at the foot of the "Dolmen de Argalo", popularly known as "A Cova da Moura" in the northern part of the mountain range. We will learn how popular imaginary has explained these monuments over the centuries based on Galician mythology.
Our next objective is to climb the Pico do Iroite to enjoy an exceptional view of the ria of Muros and Noia and the Costa da Morte. Nearby is "Casarota do Páramo", the next megalithic monument in our route. It houses a curious engraving that we will try to explain, as well as the different functionalities of these funerary monuments over time. From here, we leave the asphalt and fully embark on a 4x4 experience to reach our next objectives in the heart of the mountain range.
After leaving the 4x4 vehicle and going on a short hike in the heart of the mountain range, we will visit the most important example of Galician megalithic culture after the Dolmen de Dombate, "A Arca do Barbanza". We will address the uniqueness of its location, the complexity of its construction and the reason for its orientation.
In the last stretch of our expedition through the Sierra del Barbanza, we will visit two sites of recent study that increase the already vast archaeological list of Barbanza: "A Casarota do Fusiño", a passage grave that has a Neolithic village in its vicinity; and "O Folgoso Vello", a construction from the Castro culture period that marks a milestone among the sites of that culture.
To end our day and as a culmination to our journey through Barbanza, we will climb A Curota, specifically, O Alto dos Forcados, where three municipalities meet, Ribeira, Porto do Son and Boiro. We will breathe deeply and we will be overwhelmed by the spectacular view of the coastal stretch that goes from Cabo Finisterre, in Costa da Morte, to the mouth of the Miño River in the Rías Baixas, including the archipelagos of the National Park of Illas Atlánticas.
NOTE
The activity has an approximate duration of seven hours from the departure of the hotel to the return to it. Therefore, if we pick you up at 10 a.m., we will be back around 5 p.m. It is possible to get an earlier start as well as to expand the list of places to visit and the day.
Other places of interest that we propose are: Dolmen de Axeitos, walkways from Praia de Xuño to San Pedro Lake, Castro de Baroña.
SITES
Dolmen de Argalo, Casarota do Páramo, Arca do Barbanza, Casarota do Fusiño, Folgoso Vello.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Comfortable and suitable shoes for the time of year, rain jacket and warm clothes.
INCLUDED:
You may book by phone or email or by contacting our reservation switchboard.
To book by phone: +34 981 850 903 // +34 981 851 009.
To book by Whatsapp: +34 627 184 678
To book by email: reservas@doartesanato.com