A Guarda - a southernmost part of the Rías Baixas resorts * All PYRENEES

A Guarda (Sp. La Guardia) is a municipality and city in the province of Pontevedra in the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.

The municipality is a southernmost part of the Rías Baixas costa of the Atlantic resorts of Spain.

Main attractions

The most important artistic complex is located in the parish church of A Guardia, in the center of the town. It is dedicated to Santa María Asunción. It is a sum of parts construction with different architectural styles.

It is documented in the 12th century in the Romanesque period, of which the North wall is proof. The plan is of a Latin cross, with three naves and side chapels (that of the Trinity and that of Las Dolores).

Inside, the great variety of baroque altarpieces, the set of Mannerist paintings and the set of Rococo frescoes stand out.

The façade is baroque with white wall paintings due to the Portuguese influence.

The south façade follows Renaissance patterns, with a tympanum that enhances an urn in which there is a baroque image of the Virgin.

The bell tower is very monumental, being a fusion between the Baroque and neoclassical aspects.

In A Guardia there are two other parish churches: Santa Isabel de Camposancos, built in 1816 and San Lorenzo de Salcidos, dated 1530.

There is also a set of chapels scattered throughout the territory of the town hall: Santa Tecla in La top of the mount dates back to the twelfth century; in the 16th century the Virgin of La Guía was built; in the 18th century the one of San Cayetano was built and, at the beginning of the 20th century, that of San Roque.

Other places of interest:

Clock Tower, an old medieval tribute, which was partially destroyed and rebuilt in the 16th century.

Cultural Center, a regionalist style building designed by the architect Tomás Bilbao Sertucha, at the end of the 1920s.

Castle of Santa Cruz. Walled enclosure with four bastions. Inside there is an Interpretation Center for the cross-border fortresses of Bajo Miño.

Museum of mar. It is located in a circular building that is a reconstruction of the old Watchtower of the port of La Guardia.

A recently built monument dedicated to sailors, located near the port.

Beaches

Due to its geographical location and the confluence of the Miño River and the Atlantic Ocean, it has river and marine beaches, all of short length.

It is worth mentioning the beaches of O Muiño, located at the mouth of the river Miño, and A Lamiña, which is the continuation of it, due to its duality of waters. When the tide rises they are salt water, and when it goes down, fresh water, so it is possible to enjoy the benefits of both, although their openness to the ocean makes them significantly cold.

Sports such as swimming, skimboarding and kitesurfing are usually practiced on these beaches, among others. Apart from these beaches there are others, such as Great Area or Fedorento, which are salt water beaches.