Tower of Hercules. The tower is present throughout the city of A Coruña, either because it is in sight, or because it permeates everything that has to do with it, as it is on the coat of arms, on the lampposts, on the flags, on a lot of brands and logos… In the same way, the whole of A Coruña is present in the tower. We only have to climb the 234 steps that take us to the top floor to discover the most complete view of the peninsula of A Coruña. And, of course, the Atlantic, where the estuaries of Ares e Betanzos and Ferrol and the Sisargas Islands off Malpica can be seen. Looking down, the sculpture park of the tower. It would not be fair that this heritage is only Galician so, since 2009, it also belongs to the whole world. In winter, weather permitting, it can be visited from Monday to Sunday between 9:45 and 17:00 h, with the last ticket sale at 15:45 h.

Millennium Bridge. The new millennium came to Ourense with a new bridge. But not just any bridge. This novel project to face the 2000s not only allows us to cross the Miño on foot or by car, but also allows us to enjoy a walk over its waters, cars and the bridge itself, as if we were walking on the clouds, wrapped in a sinuous structure from which to contemplate the city calmly at its highest point. The project, signed by Álvaro Varela and executed by Juan M. Calvo, was born with the vocation of turning the bridge into another meeting point of the city, fully integrated into it. It is also known as the Gaviota Bridge.

Roman walls of Lugo. Would the Romans have imagined that their works would last so long? It almost seems a miracle that after so many centuries the wall of Lugo is still standing, and not with excessive differences with the original, at least as far as its perimeter is concerned, which is preserved intact. However, it originally had 85 high towers with large windows at the top, of which only 71 cubes remain, ending at the parapet. The tower of A Mosqueira is the only one that preserves the remains of the windows. The parapet is more than 4 m wide and along it runs a walkway from which we fully capture the structure of the city of Lugo, the new part and the old part. From up here, the wall is like a chest that hides the treasures of the capital: the old town, with the cathedral, the Plaza de Santa Maria, the Provincial Museum… By the way, this Roman heritage is also a World Heritage Site, since 2000.

Virgin of the Rock. In the municipality of Baiona, in the Rías Baixas, we find elevations near the sea from which to obtain good views. This is the case of Mount Samson or San Roque. It was already a great natural viewpoint, but why not make it even more artistic? That was the idea of the engineer Laureano Salgado, who imagined a great sculpture-viewpoint of the Virgin Mary. With the help of the philanthropist Mercedes de la Escalera, he managed to raise the capital to carry it out. In 1930 the sculpture of the Virgin of the Rock was inaugurated, in granite, 15 m high. The design is by Antonio Palacios and the face and hands, in white marble, by the sculptor Ángel García Díaz. This sailor virgin carries a boat in her right hand. Up to here we can approach, we only have to climb the interior spiral stairs. In front of us, the islands Estelas, the Cíes, Monteferro, Baiona, Nigrán and the Atlantic, and some trees. This virgin is a valuable guide for sailors.

Roofs of the cathedral of Santiago. Surely we have already been to Santiago but, do we know the roofs of the cathedral? It is one of the secrets to avoid repeating the usual route. To have a richer vision of things, you have to see them from different points of view. The roofs can be accessed with the ticket to visit the cathedral, which includes a visit to the museum, in the Pazo Xelmírez, the guided tour of the roofs and access to the north tower of the cathedral, the Torre da Carraca. From the top of the roofs, staggered, we appreciate all the pinnacles and towers in the foreground and we have a unique 360º panoramic view of the historic center, in its old age, and the rest of the city, extending. Undoubtedly, an original view of Santiago, a World Heritage Site since 1985, from its core. Visiting hours are from 10:00 to 20:00 h, and as the plan is very attractive, it is recommended to get the ticket in time, so as not to be left without it.

There are many viewpoints, although the best known are those that overlook the sea, in the inland mountains we can also enjoy incredible views. 

As for the coast, if we start with the Cantabrian Sea, in the Viveiro estuary, Punta Socastro shoots towards the sea. Perhaps we know it by a less fine name: O Fuciño do Porco (the pig’s nose). On this ledge between the beaches of Abrela and San Román. A walkway runs along the cliffs that takes us out to sea. To locate ourselves, to the east we see the Islote de A Gaveira, Monte Faro and the beach of Area and the cove of Esteiro, in Xove; to the west, the A Pereira cove and Coelleira Island and, to the north, the open sea.

The viewpoint of Cabo Ortegal, in front of the oldest rocks on earth, is also impressive. It is in the municipality of Cariño, and delimits the Ortigueira estuary. From the viewpoint, in the lighthouse itself, we see the islets of Os Aguillóns from the front; to the east, Estaca de Bares; to the west, Punta de Limo and Vixía Herbeira. In addition to the impression of the views, it is overwhelming to know that these black granite rocks were formed from magma in the guts of the earth millions of years ago. By the way, it is also a good place for ornithology.

Very close to there, less than 15 km away, we can enjoy the views from the highest cliffs in Europe at the Vixía Herbeira viewpoint, a former coastal surveillance site. From there, if we look to the left (south) we see Punta Tarroiba and Punta Balteira; Cedeira and part of its estuary and, on clear days, Punta Frouxeira, Cabo Prior and Sisargas islands. And, to the right (north), the points of Cadro and O Limo and, at the foot of the cliff, the Gabeiras islands. Here on a windy day you have to hold on to something, let’s no fly away.

In the municipality of Dumbría, in the region of Fisterra, there is a mountain pass, frequented by hard-working cyclists, with good views, too. It is the Ézaro viewpoint. From the top, we can contemplate the tip of Cape Fisterra, the Lobeiras Islands, the mouth of the Ézaro River, Mount Pindo (the «Celtic Olympus») and the Santa Uxía reservoir, almost nothing.

In A Guarda, in the province of Pontevedra, rises the mount of Santa Trega. All of it has points from which to contemplate the landscape, but we can climb the highest: O Pico de San Francisco. It is so called because it is oriented towards the islet of A Ínsua, where Franciscan monks lived. At the top, we see the mouth of the Miño, Portugal, O Rosal valley and the sea, of course. On the ascent we enjoy the views of the town of Santa Trega, one of the most important examples of Castreña-Roman culture in Galicia.

Another high peak is Mount Picudo. At the top is the so-called Pico da Muralla viewpoint, at the confluence of the Lousame and Rianxo councils. Here, thanks to a recent wooden platform that lifts us above the air, we enjoy a perfect panoramic view over the Arousa estuary, Muros estuary, Noia estuary, Santiago de Compostela and, on a sunny day, up to the Cíes Islands.

If we pull inland, we no longer have the vastness of the ocean, although there is also water, but there are the mountains and the skies, another vastness. Pena Trevinca, in the municipality of A Veiga, in the Valdeorras region, is the highest point in Galicia (2,127 m!). Being so high, it also has viewpoints scattered along the route. Some of them, such as O Rañadoiro or As Tablillas, is an astrotourism destination, ideal for contemplating the celestial landscape.

The Ribeira Sacra has viewpoints to give and take. One of the most popular is the Os Torgás viewpoint, popularly known as the Balcones de Madrid, from where those who went to work in Madrid crossed the river, generally as waffle makers. On the other shore, from Monforte, they took the train to the capital. The railings arranged so as not to fall down look like balconies. It is located in Parada de Sil, in Ourense, on the road that goes from Parada to the monastery of Santa Cristina de Ribas de Sil. Depending on how clear the weather is, we can see the Sanctuary of Nosa Señora de Cadeiras and Monforte de Lemos, in addition to the vertiginous canyons and terraces of the Sil, of course. 

And finally, how about a break with a view? On the island of Monteagudo, in the Cíes archipelago, we can go up to Alto do Príncipe and sit on the Cadeira da Raíña (Queen’s Chair). From the throne, views of the beach of Rodas, the island of O Faro and the Atlantic. Of course, it is not soft, because it was designed by the wind in the middle of the rock.

1.-Mirador do Alto do Príncipe. We start our tour on the Cies Islands. There, after reaching the end of an absolutely unforgettable trekking route through Monteagudo mountain, you will find this viewpoint. From there, both standing and sitting on some of its rocks (such as the famous “Chair of the Queen”), one is amazed at everything you can see around it. On one side, the immense Atlantic. To the other, Vigo and surroundings. And between one and another, the blue of the sea mixing with the green of our vegetation

2.-Mirador do Castro. Also in Vigo is precisely where we stop now. And it is that one can not leave the city without visiting O Castro, a mountain in the heart of the city olívica from whose top you can see the best views of the estuary of Vigo.

3.-Mirador de Santa Trega. Also in the province of Pontevedra, but further south, at the border with Portuguese lands. The Mirador de Santa Trega belongs to the municipality of A Guarda and offers a magnificent view of the mouth of the River Miño, with Galicia on one side and Portugal on the other. In addition, as in the case of the Mirador de O Castro, on the side of the mountain where they are located you can visit the remains of old Celtic castros.

4.-Mirador Monte de O Facho. In the heart of the Costa da Vela, which we have already spoken in depth previously, O Facho offers a privileged view of the Illas Cies and the estuaries of Vigo and Pontevedra.  

5.-Mirador de A Curota. If we head north, we find this viewpoint in Pobra do Caramiñal. Located at about 500 meters of altitude, it allows us to enjoy the sea in all its immensity, with the estuary of Arousa to one side and its famous bateas, as well as of the vegetation and the millenarian rocks that surround the mount. The setting is wonderful in its entirety.

6.-Mirador do Ézaro. After an ascent with infinite slope by the slope of Mount Pindo, we arrive at this viewpoint, which we also talked about recently in another post. From here we can see a panoramic view of much of the Costa da Morte.

7.-Mirador de As Grelas. In the region of Bergantiños it is almost obligatory to make a stop at the Mirador de As Grelas, a small resting area from which you can see magnificent views of the river Anllóns and Ensenada da Ínsua. It is a protected natural space, and if you go, you will understand why.

8.-Mirador del Monte San Pedro. In the heart of A Coruña, the old defensive stronghold of the city and current park for the rest and disconnection of all who seek silence and nature. Directly opposite, the Tower of Hercules, with its lighthouse illuminating the road.

9.-Mirador de Los Balcones de Madrid. If we move to the east, we stop at this viewpoint in the heart of Ribeira Sacra. Describing what is felt with the huge gorges under our feet is almost impossible task. You have to see it to feel it.

10.-Mirador de San Roque. Finally, in Viveiro, with 353 meters of altitude is one of the highest (and most spectacular) of the Mariña Lucense.

What do these viewpoints have in common? Its breathtaking views, which fall in love with everyone who stops to look.

13What is your favorite?