Baiona

BaionaThe historic town and pleasantly lively summer resort of Baiona with its well sheltered, natural harbour, in the southernmost part of Galicia, south of Vigo, favoured by the King of Spain in his sailing days, was founded in 140 BC. With a yacht club and a marina, its main claim to fame, perhaps, was the arrival here on 1st March 1493 of La Pinta, the first ship to bring the news of Colombus' discovery of the New World. There is now a replica of it in the harbour and a medieval festival called La Arribada is celebrated in the first week in March every year. The imposing Castillo de Monterreal, now a hotel, sits on the promontory with the lovely Playa de Ribera on the shore. Behind the sophisticated waterfront with stylish cafeterias, lie quaint, cobbled, porticoed back streets crowded with popular bars serving delicious fish and seafood tapas.