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about A Lama
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A Lama is a village in the Pontevedra hills. You come here for the river beaches or the walking routes, not for the town itself.
Park on the outskirts. The streets in the centre are narrow and slope downwards. You will walk back up later.
The old core is small. You can see it in twenty minutes. The Iglesia de Santa María, from the 16th century, sits in the main square. The surrounding houses are built from local stone with slate roofs. It’s typical of the area, nothing more.
The interesting parts are outside
About three kilometres out, follow signs for Xende. You’ll find the cruceiro-templete del Santo Cristo de Xende, a stone cross sheltered under a small roofed structure. It’s unusual.
Nearby stands the capilla del Sagrado Corazón, a small chapel that looks older than it is. A short drive away is the puente de Liñares over the río Xesta. It’s a simple three-century-old bridge still used by locals. Further on, the puente de Anceu has five arches and connects to Fornelos.
These are working bridges, not restored monuments. They show how people have moved through this terrain for generations.
The river beaches are why people come in summer
A Lama has three: Verdugo, Dos Prados and Gaxate. The water runs clear off the main roads.
Finding them can be tricky. Signage is poor and turn-offs are easy to miss. Expect some backtracking.
Once there, you get flat rocks, deep pools and shade from chestnut trees. There are picnic tables. Bring your own food and drink; there are rarely services nearby. It’s a good spot to cool off on a hot day.
You can walk into recent history
The hills around A Lama hold prehistoric burial mounds, called mámoas. They are not tourist attractions.
There are no signs or marked trails. Ask locally for directions—often starting near a cemetery or up a forestry track—and go looking.
What you find will be subtle: grass-covered mounds or a single mossy stone among trees. Their value is in their quiet persistence, not spectacle.
Practicalities
From Pontevedra, take the PO-532 for about 24 kilometres; the last part climbs and winds. From Vigo it takes about 45 minutes. Buses from Pontevedra stop in the village square; check return times first. Wear shoes with grip for the river beaches. Pack a jacket; weather shifts quickly here. Come on a weekday morning if you want quiet. Visit Xende first, then head to Verdugo beach with provisions. Leave by mid-afternoon unless you're heading into the hills to walk. That covers it
