Is Pontevedra a 'must visit' city?

[MauiGail]

Bom dia. My friends and I will be starting our first camino, the Portuguese, in mid April. I'm wondering if we should make sure to spend time in Pontevedra or walk on to the Hotel Rural in Campaniola, 5.5 km down the road. My only reason for considering this alternative is because the highly rated Hotel Rural has spa services and I think my friends would be happy to take advantage of those. We can easily resume our walking on the Spiritual Variant the next morning. However, if Pontevedra is a 'must see' city, we'll be happy to miss the spa. Perhaps we'll figure out how to do both. Thank you very much.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Perhaps we'll figure out how to do both.

If it were me and I couldn't find a way to do both, I'd skip the spa; I loved Pontevedra!

 

[bprohs]

Bom dia. My friends and I will be starting our first camino, the Portuguese, in mid April. I'm wondering if we should make sure to spend time in Pontevedra or walk on to the Hotel Rural in Campaniola, 5.5 km down the road. My only reason for considering this alternative is because the highly rated Hotel Rural has spa services and I think my friends would be happy to take advantage of those. We can easily resume our walking on the Spiritual Variant the next morning. However, if Pontevedra is a 'must see' city, we'll be happy to miss the spa. Perhaps we'll figure out how to do both. Thank you very much.

Where is the Hotel Rural? The spa sound great!

 

[CWBuff]

Bom dia.

Shouldn't that be Aloha?
Oh I dont know... IMHO - a spa vs an awesome Historical Galician city.... yeah... methinksme would chose the latter

 

[MauiGail]

If it were me and I couldn't find a way to do both, I'd skip the spa; I loved Pontevedra!

Thanks' so much, Chrissy.

 

[MauiGail]

Shouldn't that be Aloha?
Oh I dont know... IMHO - a spa vs an awesome Historical Galician city.... yeah... methinksme would chose the latter

Thanks!

 

[JoEllen]

I agree with the above......we loved Pontevedra and made an extra day on our second CP to enjoy it.

 

[Elle Bieling]

I'm going to swim the opposite direction here! I did love Pontevedra, but we only spent an afternoon there. The pilgrim's church (Capela da Virxe Peregrina de Pontevedra) is a must see, after you enter town and right along the Camino. It would take less than an hour to see. There are also some other historic squares and buildings that you can see my photos here, at the end of the article. That could take another few hours.

However, since the stage from Redondela to Pontevedra is a shortish one, at 20 km, and if you really would enjoy a spa, I'd get up early, walk the five hours into town, spend the afternoon seeing Pontevedra and having lunch, then walk the 1.5 hour to the Hotel Rural, say around 4-5ish. You will have a reservation anyway, so no need to hurry!

Can you tell I like a good spa??

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I'm going to swim the opposite direction here!

Good input, Elle! You are very thorough and your suggestion is a good one. I think most of us were responding to the fact the OP had mentioned possibly having to totally skip Pontevedra completely in order to do the spa, which would then be a shame.
I think you swim very well!

 

[pinkwadingbird]

Personally I would opt for the spa. Unless for some reason you need the services or shopping opportunities that Pontevedra offers. It is a lovely city but not sure I would put it in the 'can't miss' category.

 

[WayWalker]

Bom dia. My friends and I will be starting our first camino, the Portuguese, in mid April. I'm wondering if we should make sure to spend time in Pontevedra or walk on to the Hotel Rural in Campaniola, 5.5 km down the road. My only reason for considering this alternative is because the highly rated Hotel Rural has spa services and I think my friends would be happy to take advantage of those. We can easily resume our walking on the Spiritual Variant the next morning. However, if Pontevedra is a 'must see' city, we'll be happy to miss the spa. Perhaps we'll figure out how to do both. Thank you very much.

One of my favorite cities on the Portugese.

 

[Anthony Rocco]

Bom dia. My friends and I will be starting our first camino, the Portuguese, in mid April. I'm wondering if we should make sure to spend time in Pontevedra or walk on to the Hotel Rural in Campaniola, 5.5 km down the road. My only reason for considering this alternative is because the highly rated Hotel Rural has spa services and I think my friends would be happy to take advantage of those. We can easily resume our walking on the Spiritual Variant the next morning. However, if Pontevedra is a 'must see' city, we'll be happy to miss the spa. Perhaps we'll figure out how to do both. Thank you very much.

Pontevedra was a highlight of our time on the Portugues. It had far more than we expected. You may be able to schedule your walk so that you have time to visit it and still make it to the spa.

 

[C.C.]

I loved Pontevedra … spas I can visit at home, but Spanish historic towns, not so much

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I loved Pontevedra … spas I can visit at home, but Spanish historic towns, not so much

Those were exactly my thoughts before I posted #2, but Elle found a way to include doing both, which could possibly work well, too.

 

[Mery989]

Loved Pontevedra. A city not to be missed.

 

[henrythedog]

What would constitute a ‘must see’ city in your view and do you think you can see a ‘must see’ anything in about 24 hours?

Seriously - your day will be determined more by the weather, your present company and serendipity than trying to ‘see’ anything whilst passing through. Just go with it.

 

[Nanners]

I liked Pontevedra, too. Unfortunately, we arrived on a Sunday and most everything was closed. We were able to visit the Pilgrim's Church and walk around a bit.

 

[trecile]

Seriously - your day will be determined more by the weather, your present company and serendipity than trying to ‘see’ anything whilst passing through. Just go with it.

To me, the question is more "should I spend time soaking up the atmosphere in this Spanish city that I may not get the chance to visit again, or should I go to a spa?"

 

[David Tallan]

Bom dia. My friends and I will be starting our first camino, the Portuguese, in mid April. I'm wondering if we should make sure to spend time in Pontevedra or walk on to the Hotel Rural in Campaniola, 5.5 km down the road. My only reason for considering this alternative is because the highly rated Hotel Rural has spa services and I think my friends would be happy to take advantage of those. We can easily resume our walking on the Spiritual Variant the next morning. However, if Pontevedra is a 'must see' city, we'll be happy to miss the spa. Perhaps we'll figure out how to do both. Thank you very much.

I liked Pontevedra. But it depends on what makes a city "must see" to you. I can see wanting to visit the spa, since you'll be missing the spas at Caldas de Reis if you take the Spiritual Variant.

 

[MauiGail]

Thanks for all of your replies. I do think it would be a good idea to spend time in Pontevedra. I emailed the Hotel Rural Campaniola and was informed that we can use their spa as day guests. So we’ll spend the afternoon and evening enjoying Pontevedra, then stop at the spa on the way to Combarro. If we want to!
Thanks again.