Sadly it was time to move on again, so we packed the car and set off to drive to Pontevedra.
The first stage
We took the main road towards Ourense, retracing the way we had come before, and then set off cross-country.
O Carballino
This is another of the many thermal towns we were encountering. We didn’t explore, just looked for a cafe. But I did notice the ‘lights’ in the streets – it looked as though the town was gearing up or an octopus festival. We had enjoyed the Festival of San Froilan in Lugo in 2019 – great fun!
Church of Vera Cruz
I had seen a photograph of the church, but it din’t prepare me for the quite out of the ordinary construction which we found in the middle of the town. Construction of the church started in 1943 and it is the incomplete work of a Galician architect, Antonio Palacios Ramilo, from Porriño.
“The temple is built entirely out of local granite and slate and is a mix of styles. Neo-Romanesque apses are mixed with pointed arches, corners that are zealously kept in shadows contrast with large windows that fill the building with light. The tall tower is possibly the most recognisable point of all of O Carballiño, and lights the town like a medieval lighthouse seeking to touch the sky.”1
Inside it is like a fantasy – a collection of all the possible architectural bits and pieces you might see in a Spanish church.
The second leg
We drove through miles of wooded countryside, up to passes, and down again. But everywhere there were trees – oaks, poplars, chestnuts, eucalyptus, wattle and pine trees, and high up there was bracken and heather.
Pontevedra
Pontevedra is a big town, much bigger than our previous stops, but the SatNav guided us to the underground car park at the Hotel Galicia Palace. It is always a slightly anxious time – driving into an unknown town – but the hotel proved comfortable and friendly, and we enjoyed our time there.
The drive to Pontevedra was a slightly longer day than anticipated and it was good to arrive and enjoy a hot shower and a medicinal glass.