Path of the Seven Lighthouses
The "Magnus Portus Artabrorum" is the name given by the Romans to a place on the north west angle of the coast of Galicia, between the Ares and the Ortigueira estuaries, whose exact location is unknown to us. A hundred kilometres of coastline with the most spectacular landscape combinations of land and sea of the Atlantic arch: three estuaries, sands with dunes and breaking waves, coastal lagoons and the highest cliffs in Europe. This area has been declared a place of great geological interest and its international fame could be justified solely on the variety of rocks making up these true mountain ranges, such as A Capelada, rising up over the ocean. Located on its slope we find one of the most ancient pilgrimage places, Santo André de Teixido, where the popular saying has it that those "vai de morto quen non foi de vivo" (who did not go there when living will go when dead). This is really one of the meccas of magical Galicia with its votive offerings of bread dough and its chapel where offerings are received.
There are numerous modest beacons on this stretch. The dirt roads that lead to them infect us with the scenic emotion of coming face to face with immensity. On the Ría de Ferrol, Cabo Prioriño and, a little more to the north, its brother Cabo Prior are two of those small solitary beacons. Located between them can see the Doniños beach with the first of the characteristic coastal lagoons of this region. It is deeper than those found on the other sands of San Xurxo and Pantín, and also has fresh water lagoons. Nevertheless, the largest is the lagoon of A Frouxeira, the only one with brackish water, located on the beach of Valdoviño. This is a protected humid area and an important bird sanctuary.