Baiona

Baiona is a municipality in the province of Pontevedra, Galicia, situated on a rocky promontory at the southern end of the Vigo ría. The town holds a significant place in Atlantic history as the port where the Pinta, one of Columbus’s three ships, arrived on 1 March 1493 to bring the first news of the discovery of the Americas to Europe.

The town is dominated by the Monterreal Castle, a medieval fortress that encloses the entire promontory with intact walls and towers and now operates as a Parador hotel. The walled promontory, with its battlements, towers, and coastal views, is one of the most dramatically sited historic fortifications in Galicia.

For pilgrims on the coastal Camino Português, Baiona is a major cultural and historical stop, and the walled promontory walk is one of the route’s most memorable detours.