Bridges
Among all its bridges, Baiona boasts of a unique crossing structure: a marvellous Romanesque bridge related to amazing believes and in nearly perfect conditions. Under the present heading main bridges in the council join together.
Romanesque bridge in A Ramallosa
The bridge across the river Miñor establishes the boundary between the councils of Baiona and Nigrán. Besides, it is one of the most beautiful Medieval-style bridges still standing in Galicia. It presents 10 openings or bays with semicircular arches, eight of which (36 metres long) belong to Baiona. There are some Gothic arches, probably due to mending works, carried out along history, which brought different styles.
Right in the middle of the bridge there is cross with an image of St. Telmo at the base. This saint is sailors' patron and, according to history, its was them who ordered the cross.
Under the bridge there is an "All Saints Chest" portraying souls in torment. Not so long ago -just a few decades- fertility rites where held in this bridge. Tradition says that pregnant women whose unborn children had been repeatedly miscarried used to go to the bridge to exorcise their unfavourable fate. The exorcism had to be performed at midnight: the woman's belly was washed with water from the river and the first person to cross the river after the rite was chosen as godparent, a honour which could not be refused.
New bridge over the river Miñor
It was built in recent times, parallel to the Medieval Bridge of A Ramallosa. The four-lane bridge joins Baiona and Nigrán by means of the C-550 road. It lacks any artistic interest; its importance relies on its function: it handles all the traffic from Baiona and the neighbouring area of O Rosal.
Bridge in Sabarís or the Old Bridge
Placed in the parish of Santa Cristina in the Old Roman Way or Royal Way, it is an ashlar work made in the 15th century with three semicircular arches and triangular-shaped cutwaters. It leans a little bit.
Bridge over the river Groba or the Fair Bridge
It dates back from the 15th century and it has a single bay with a semicircular arch and a pair of ashlar cuttwaters. The pavement on the bridge is stone-made itself. As the other bridge in Sabarís, the structure leans a little bit. The river Groba runs down the bridge, which separates Victoria Cadaval Sq. from Dr. Fariñas St. Six stone steps link the bridge with the road.
Bridge in O Burgo
Placed in the parish of Baíña, it crosses the river named after the parish. This single-bay bridge is a modern-style structure.
Bridge in Baredo
It is a single-bay bridge built in recent times to cross the river Baredo. The bridge is a stretch of road C-550 connecting Pontevedra and Camposancos.
Fountain: baiona.org
