You will start your day in the municipality of A Pobra do Caramiñal. It is a coastal village that also boasts a magnificent mountain backdrop, which is where today's itinerary begins. Later, you will head to the neighboring town of Ribeira and end the day next to Corrubedo Lighthouse, embraced by the whistle of a raging sea.

The A Curota Viewpoint will be the starting point of the route since, located over 500 meters high, it offers a complete overview of Barbanza-Arousa, making it the ideal spot for introducing the region. On the drive up, you will be greeted by the monument to Valle-Inclán, a renowned writer closely connected to A Pobra who enjoyed these views so many times.

Upon arrival, the four municipalities you will visit during these three days (Ribeira, A Pobra do Caramiñal, Boiro, and Rianxo) will unfold before you, united by the spectacular Serra do Barbanza mountain range (which gives its name to the region) and, of course, the magnificent Ría de Arousa bay. This sea inlet reaching into the coast makes these calmer waters exceptionally fertile for shellfish farming. So much so that you can see the vast park of floating mussel platforms (bateas), which play a major role in the local economy.

As you may know, rías (coastal inlets) are one of the geological features that best define Galicia. According to legend, they were formed when God rested His hands upon Galicia after finishing the creation of the world.

In Christian tradition, the Ría de Arousa also witnessed the voyage transporting the body of Saint James the Apostle by boat from the port of Jaffa (Israel) to the lands of Padrón—an event known as the Traslatio. You can transport yourself to the 1st century AD and imagine that great stone boat carrying the Apostle's remains entering through the mouth of the bay, following its course into the Ulla River and continuing upstream to present-day Padrón.

However, the Ría de Arousa was not always a peaceful place; it suffered numerous attacks throughout history. Serving as the maritime gateway to Saint James's tomb, it was a crucial defense point against naval raids by Vikings, Saracens, pirates, and later privateers.

You will also observe Sálvora Island, which together with its rocky archipelago forms part of the Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park. It is an island of legend and rich history; if you visit it, one of the first things you will see is a mermaid statue.

And what is the story behind Sálvora's connection to this mythical creature?

Among several legends, one tells of the knight Roldán, who arrived on the island fleeing the Battle of Roncesvalles and met a mysterious maiden coming out of the sea. She turned out to be a mermaid whom he named Mariña, with whom he had a son, starting the noble Mariño family lineage. The surname remains common in the region today, and their coats of arms are prominently displayed on the facades of notable historic buildings across the area.

Off Sálvora, a tragic shipwreck took place in 1921: the sinking of the mail steamer Santa Isabel, known as the "Galician Titanic." Intriguingly, this vessel had been built taking into account the Titanic's tragic fate to prevent a similar disaster. Yet the storm battering the Galician coast showed no mercy, resulting in over 200 deaths.

On January 2nd, the inhabitants of Sálvora rowed out in their humble traditional boats (dornas) to rescue the survivors, saving more than fifty lives. The heroines of the day were three local women who earned the title of "Heroines of Sálvora," and whose names were given to the traditional stone granaries (hórreos) preserved on the island today.

Another interesting viewpoint is A Pedra da Ra, from where you can glimpse the mouth of the bay and the entire Corrubedo Natural Park, including the Grand Dune, Carregal and Vixán lagoons, and the popular O Vilar beach.

Here, the connection to Saint James emerges once more. Besides viewing the mouth of the bay where the Apostle's boat sailed, legend says he leaped across the Corrubedo inlet on horseback from Mount A Cidá (a few meters from the viewpoint) to Corrubedo, leaving his footprints embedded in the rocks. One of them is known today as Saint James's Stone.

Perhaps the most universal legend associated with the natural park links it to the sunken city of Valverde, also known as the "Galician Atlantis." According to lore, the city of Valverde lies submerged beneath Carregal Lagoon. Locals say that on clear days, house beams and bronze mooring rings can still be glimpsed at the bottom of the lagoon.

The next stop will be the coastal village of Corrubedo. Strolling through its narrow streets, you will discover a charming fishing town deeply connected to the sea, accompanied by the whistle of the wind and the sound of crashing waves.

You will spot the traditional dorna boat among other vessels, deeply rooted in the maritime culture of Ribeira.

It was introduced to the Rías Baixas likely as a scaled-down adaptation of the Viking drakkar during the frequent Viking raids attempting to besiege Santiago de Compostela in the Early Middle Ages.

Evidence suggests that prior to the 12th century, Galician sailors adapted Nordic boatbuilding technology, creating a vessel unmatched in functionality, ease of construction, and material efficiency, reaching modern times with minimal changes.

One of Ribeira's most famous festivities is the festival honoring the Dorna every July 24th. It celebrates the community's bond with its flagship vessel and originated as a charitable initiative to raise funds for poorer families through fishing.

To cap off the day, head to the Corrubedo Lighthouse to witness an unforgettable sunset.

When navigation evolved beyond cabotage, the need arose to build lighted beacons along the coasts, giving birth to lighthouses. The word "lighthouse" in Romance languages (faro) stems from Pharos, an island off Alexandria where one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was built in 279 BC.

The ninth lighthouse along the Galician coast was built in Corrubedo in 1853. Its location highlights why it was essential on this treacherous Atlantic coast. Miscoordination with other lighthouses like Fisterra, Cíes, or Sálvora sometimes caused confusion, as in the case of the Santa Isabel shipwreck. Following this event, the lighthouse's white light was changed to red, earning it the nickname "the communist lighthouse."

Local tradition says that in Corrubedo, an extra hour of daylight remains after the sun sets, giving you plenty of time to enjoy this wild and mesmerizing panorama.

In O Castelo Park, you will find the Pilgrim Virgin Wayside Cross, part of the Maritime-Fluvial Stations of the Cross commemorating the transfer of Saint James's remains. Prior to the 19th century, the town was split into O Caramiñal and A Pobra do Deán; the cross shaft displays the caramiña plant and the scallop shell, representing the two communities before their unification.

Another maritime site in the park is the Casa Mariñeira, one of the town's few remaining traditional fishermen's cottages.

Nearby stands Santiago do Deán Church, featuring an image of Saint James on its facade.

Next, visit the rock pools of the Pedras River, surrounded by lush forest and smooth river stones.

Legend says Saint Maurus navigated the river in a stone boat (identified with a boulder beside the pools) while fleeing persecutors, and divine intervention filled the riverbed with rocks to block their pursuit.

Enjoy a peaceful walk along the Cabío-O Xobre coastal path, skirting Cabío Beach with its white sand and turquoise waters. The historic site of O Xobre includes a church with panoramic views, a rectory, the San Antonio convent ruins, and an Iron Age hillfort at Punta Ostreira. Cabío's promenade was one of the first built in the region, and its beach was the first to receive a Blue Flag.

Transitioning from coast to mountain, drive up Mount Iroite (nearly 700 m high) in Boiro. Besides sweeping views over Arousa and Muros-Noia bays, you can explore the Mámoas burial mound route, featuring over 30 prehistoric tumuli dating back 6,000 BC, including the Arca do Barbanza (Galicia's largest dolmen) and A Casota do Páramo.

Continue to central Rianxo, walking past the homes of famed Galician literary figures Manuel Antonio, Rafael Dieste, and Castelao along the same street. At A Praciña, see the traditional "oar houses" (casas do remo), built to the width of an oar to maximize waterfront access.

Conclude your day with a stroll along the promenade to A Torre beach at dusk. Across the inlet, you can spot the Neixón peninsula.

Here stand the 13th-century ruins of O Castelo da Lúa, former seat of Paio Gómez Chariño.

The castle's name stems from a romantic legend: two lovers imprisoned in the castle fled by boat at night, were struck by archers' arrows, and washed ashore embraced together before being buried at the castle tower's base.

Having explored Barbanza-Arousa, you will find no better conclusion to your journey than looking out over the Serra do Barbanza and the Ría de Arousa—the two defining symbols of this fascinating land.