Route of the Historic Center of Baiona

In approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, you can explore the narrow, cobbled streets that make up the old town of Baiona, discovering a small temple, a monument, or a noble house at every turn.

The old town of Baiona was declared a Site of Historical-Artistic Interest by the Xunta de Galicia in 1993, coinciding with the celebration of the V Centennial of the Arrival of the Caravel Pinta to Baiona.

1 - Convent of the Dominicas

A cloistered convent founded in 1547 by Doña Mayor Fernández Acuña. It is a complex building constructed over a previous one from the 13th century. Inside the chapel, the baroque altarpiece of the main altar stands out, dedicated to the Virgin of the Annunciation, the patron saint of Baiona. From Diego Carmona Street, you can access the sweet shop run by the nuns themselves.

2 - Chapel of Mercy

It was built by order of Philip II in 1595 at the entrance of the Monterreal Fortress. In 1656, it was rebuilt in the old town of the village, where it stands today. It is owned by the Holy House of Peace and Mercy. Inside, its baroque altarpiece stands out, as well as the tombstones in the presbytery and the Golden Christ, which, according to tradition, came from America filled with gold coins inside its hollow interior.

3 - House Lorenzo Correa

It was commissioned in 1757 by Don Lorenzo Correa y Araujo, mayor of Cuernavaca (Mexico). In 1942, the town hall acquired it to convert it into the Town Hall. The building has a surface area of 630 m², distributed over two floors and a tower. Two coats of arms display the heraldry of the Correa, Sotomayor, and Troncoso de Lira families. Between them, the town hall placed the town's coat of arms from the old town hall.

4 - House of the Ceta

Also known as the House of Pardon due to a cruel privilege granted by the Catholic Monarchs, which exempted from guilt any condemned person who, at the moment of being subjected to public punishment, was able to grasp the chain hanging from the entrance door of the house. It was built at the beginning of the 14th century and preserves two coats of arms with the arms of the Ceta, Figueroa, and Fitado families, among others.

5 - Hospital Sancti Spiritus

It was built in the 16th century at the entrance of the Monterreal Fortress and rebuilt in the 17th century at its current location. It was a charitable hospital that cared for the poor and pilgrims. Currently, part of the building houses the public municipal library and the town's Historical Archive.

The two-story building features a charming interior courtyard with a garden and a well. In its facilities, we can also find two stone sculptures: a pilgrim and an effigy of the Apostle James.

6 - Chapel of San Juan

A small 17th-century chapel dedicated to San Juan do Castelo. It remains closed all year except during Holy Week and San Juan, when it can be visited.

7 - Chapel of Santa Liberata

Construction began in 1695 through public subscription and is dedicated to the worship of Santa Liberata, the first Christian woman to receive martyrdom on the Cross, along with her sisters and her nurse Sila. The main facade features the image of the crucified Saint. The main altar represents different scenes from her life and houses an equestrian figure of Apostle James, one of the elements of Jacobean devotion that can be found in Baiona.

8 - EX-Collegiate Church of Santa María

Its construction dates back to the second half of the 12th century, although it was mostly built in the 14th century. It features a transitional Romanesque style with Cistercian influences. Its layout includes three naves and a triple rectangular apse, with the main altar retable designed in baroque style. The main facade is adorned with a rose window characteristic of the transitional period.

The interior was restored in 1976 and houses the Virgin of the Annunciation, the patron saint of Baiona. The festival in her honor is celebrated on the first weekend of August, when the Virgin is carried in procession on shoulders from the church at 9 PM, traversing the streets of the town.

9 - Cross of the Santísima Trinidad

Located on the old Roman road, it consists of a 15th-century Gothic cross covered by a Renaissance-style canopy, reaching a height of 8 meters. It used to serve as an altar for celebrating mass during times of plague for the inhabitants of Val Miñor and the crews of the ships anchored in the estuary.

It is one of the few covered crosses with a baldachin that exist in Galicia. Although the exact date of its construction is uncertain, it is known to have been present in 1585 when the troops of the pirate Francis Drake arrived in the town.

It is found on the Portuguese Way of the Coast.

10 - House of Deán Mendonza

Built in 1768 by the bayonés Don Policarpo Mendonza, Dean of the Cathedral Chapter of Santiago. Its facade prominently displays a coat of arms with the inscription: "Ave María," the family motto.

11 - House of Navigation

Located in the historic center of Baiona, in what is known as Casa Carbajal, this museum contains a visitable collection that encompasses the entire history and naval prominence of Baiona. This building is also known as the House of the Pacifiers due to its distinctive finishes. The museum houses documents and historical objects that narrate the urban, social, and maritime evolution of Baiona, especially its role in the great Atlantic navigations. It was inaugurated in 2015.

On the ground floor, visitors can explore the arrival of the caravel "La Pinta" and enjoy an immersive virtual visit. The first floor highlights the expansion under Philip II, maritime trade, and 20th-century fishing, featuring treasures such as the privilege of 1593 and cannons from Cabo Silleiro. An outdoor garden completes the museum's facilities.

12 - Monument to Alfonso IX

It was erected in 2001 to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the founding of Baiona as a royal town. It is the work of Juan Oliveira Viéitez and represents King Alfonso IX, the founder, protector, and benefactor of Baiona.

13 - Virgin of the Rock

            [1 km away]

It was built from granite by the Porriño architect Antonio Palacios. The work was inaugurated in 1930, stands 15 meters tall, and depicts the Virgin holding in her right hand a lookout boat that can be accessed via a spiral staircase made of stone by the bayonés Ángel Fernández. 

This unique stone sculpture is the only one of its kind and arises directly from the rock of Mount Sansón, situated 100 meters above sea level. It measures 15 meters in height from its base and is primarily carved from stone, with the exception of the face and hands, which are made from white marble.