This is a continuing series of photographs from our Galicia Road Trip (with a few stops in Asturias) this past August.
In my last post, we arrived in Muxía and visited the breathtaking Santuario da Virxe da Barca in Galicia’s Costa da Morte (Coast of Death). This historic fishing town also has beautiful beaches and an interesting monumental heritage. In this post, I’ll share a few photographs from some of this absolutely charming town’s lesser-known attractions.
On the road in Muxía
It is believed that the village was founded by people from nearby Cereixo on land that belonged to the monks of Moraime, who gave the old town its name (Muxía means “land of monks”). In 1105 the town was occupied by the Normans and later on by the Muslims. Muxía’s repopulation was carried out by King Alfonso VII, starting in 1119. In the 14th century, it obtained the title of “town”, thanks to its remarkable fishing port.
At the beginning of the 20th Century, Muxía was a seafaring town that had little more than one thousand inhabitants. Today, Muxía is a thriving town focused on fishing (especially conger eel and sardines) and lace-making, developing into a hub for coastal tourism and the maritime industry.
Muxía is also a significant Camino de Santiago pilgrimage destination known for the aforementioned 12th-century Santuario da Virxe da Barca which is steeped in legends of the Virgin Mary, Celtic traditions, and maritime history. Here are a few additional sites to see in the region…
Iglesia de San Martiño de Ozón
The Iglesia de San Martiño de Ozón is a 12th-century Romanesque church located in Muxía that features original Romanesque apses, a later Gothic bell tower, and (unbeknownst to us) a large hórreo (granary) in the priest’s garden, often cited as one of the largest in Galicia (not sure how we missed that but we did!). Here are a few photographs…
Mosteiro de San Xulián de Moraime
The Romanesque Mosteiro de San Xulián de Moraime was built in the 12th century but soon afterwards it was attacked and destroyed by Norman pirates. However, Alfonso Raimúndez (King Afonso V of Galicia and the future King Alfonso VII of León and eventually emperor of Spain), had lived in the area when he was younger and although he was only 14 at the time, Alfonso restored the monastery with a considerable donation in 1119. A few photographs…
Iglesia de Santa Leocadia de Frixe
And finally, right down the street from our hotel, the rustic Casa Ceferinos, we stumbled upon the Iglesia de Santa Leocadia de Frixe, another Romanesque church which dates back to the 12th century. In the 17th century, specifically in 1714, several modifications were made to the church, adding a Baroque bell gable and other decorative elements.
Alas, in all three cases, neither of these attractions were open so we only managed exterior shots while fighting off the harsh afternoon sun. Made me miss (for about 20 seconds) the overcast skies I usually encounter during my December trips to Europe (that I usually bemoan) but that make outdoor photography far easier. Like I said, for only about 20 seconds. We were loving the absolutely beautiful weather Galicia rolled out for us. More to come from our road trip…
My next post, alas, will be our last from Muxía but features images from their annual Mercado das Rutas do Mar.
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Photographs are great but the beauty of Galicia can’t be properly illustrated without the moving image, so head on over to my video production site to watch a wonderful recap video from our trip that’s guaranteed to take your breath away.All photographs taken with the Sony a7RV camera and the Xiaomi 13 UltraFor more information about visiting Galicia, visit the official tourism website
All photographs taken with the Sony a7RV camera and the Xiaomi 13 UltraFor more information about visiting Galicia, visit the official tourism website