Spain Guide
Galicia
Ría de Arousa
Tourism on a significant scale starts to make its presence felt in the Ría de Arousa. The most popular destination is the old port of O Grove – linked by bridge to the island of A Toxa, which holds a very upscale enclave of luxury hotels – while much the nicest of the old towns hereabouts is Cambados, renowned for its beautiful central plaza. Sadly, both are bypassed by the rail line south from Santiago, which swings inland at Vilagarcía de Arousa.
While strip development mars much of the coast, just inland the hillsides are a patchwork of tiny fields, primarily planted with the grapes that go into the delicious local Albariño wine. Gourmets will want to sample authentic pimientos in the village of Padrón.