Municipality

Catoira

Catoira, a picturesque municipality in Pontevedra with a population exceeding 3,000, occupies a privileged geographic location at the mouth of the River Ulla and the head of the Ría de Arousa. Its coastlines, sculpted by the tides, harbour marshes of great ecological value. Renowned for their biodiversity and excellent state of conservation, these wetlands form part of the Ulla-Deza Fluvial System Special Protection Area for Birds.

Catoira’s history is deeply rooted in the Bronze Age, as evidenced by the numerous petroglyphs scattered throughout the locality. Remains of an early Iron Age settlement dating from between the 1st and 2nd centuries BC have also been discovered, bearing witness to its ancestral past. However, the most iconic emblem of the municipality is undoubtedly Torres de Oeste (Towers of the West), historically known as the "Key and Seal of Galicia". These towers constituted a crucial defensive fortress against Norman attacks attempting to penetrate the estuary to seize the holy city of Santiago de Compostela. Although the fortification fell into disuse following the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, the ruins are currently the town’s cultural and festive centre.

During the first week of August, the town revives its Viking past with the Romaría Vikinga (Viking Festival), a celebration declared of International Tourist Interest. The flagship event is the Viking Landing, where approximately 200 participants re-enact the assault on the Torres de Oeste aboard two impressive Viking ships locally known as drakkars. This festival, which fuses history, culture and entertainment, is complemented by the Romaría Vikinga Theatre Week, during which local residents perform plays inspired by Viking themes; the Viking Dinner and the Night of Light, a culinary evening set in the medieval period, followed by a spectacular fireworks display; and the Vikinsons Festival, featuring folk and rock concerts by Galician, national and European artists.

Beyond these celebrations, Catoira boasts the Torres de Oeste Interactive Cultural Centre (CACTO), which offers interactive exhibitions allowing visitors to explore the history of the municipality and experience the Romaría Vikinga first-hand.

In addition to the Torres de Oeste, the municipality houses other architectural and natural treasures, such as the Chapel of Santiago, the Shrine of San Cibrán and three types of traditional mills: river mills along all the local waterways, windmills inland and a rare tide mill at the mouth of the River Catoira.

The parish festivities in Catoira take place primarily throughout the summer, between late June and September. The San Antonio Food Festival, held on the second weekend of July, is a notable event where, beyond tasting local products, visitors can enjoy live music, attractions and a market. At the end of October, the Procession of the Caveiras (Skulls) is held, a peculiar night-time parade through the darkened streets of the village, lit only by candles. Finally, on the seventh Sunday after Easter (Pentecost Sunday), the Romaría of San Cibrán is celebrated, a pilgrimage festival where parishioners process to the saint's chapel accompanied by traditional Galician music.