Pontevedra is a city situated on the north west coast of Spain, in the area of Galicia. It is probable that there was habitation on the site before Roman times but the city as it is known today probably was formed around the 1st century BC during the Roman occupation of Spain. Indeed its name derives from the Latin Pons (bridge) and Veteris (old), giving Pontevedra or “the old bridge”. This probably refers to the old Roman bridge across the river Lerez which is still standing and in use today.
Pontevedra has many interesting and important religious buildings either within the city or close by, one of the reasons it is one of the cities on the pilgrim route “The Way of St James”. La Iglesia de la Virgen de la Peregrina is a stopping off point for pilgrims who are travelling on the route. There is a legend that the pilgrims who came to Pontevedra by ship were shown the way to Santiago de Compostela, the end of the pilgrimage. To be assured of success a pilgrim had to make a journey to the church. The statue of the Virgin can be seen in the interior.
Another monument worthy of note is the ruins of the 13th century Santo Domingo Monastery. The monastery was run by the Order of Preachers, better known as the Domenicans. It is constructed in the Gothic style. The sanctuary and five chapels are all that remain of the original building. Some parts of the church built in the neoclassical style are still standing.
It is easy to walk around Pontevedra as the old town and the surrounding area has a large pedestrian centre. This coupled with the number of parks and public squares, makes walking around the city viewing the many sites, a pleasant pastime.
