A Guarda

It has been designated a European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) by the European Commission in recognition of its proposal for sustainable tourism. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and presided by the Miño river and the Monte de Santa Tecla hill fort, the town of A Guarda is famous for its lobsters.

This landscape features elements of the sea, the river and the mountains, and is home to one of the most typical fishing villages in Galicia, on the border with Portugal. Its situation has meant that throughout its history A Guarda has been conquered by vandals, and Norman, Saracen, Portuguese and French pirates. Its monuments include the monastery of Benedictinas (1558), the parish church raised on an old 10th-century religious building, and the stately mansions of the Correa and Somoza families. Its economic activities range from farm smallholdings through to rabbit breeding and free range poultry. Fishing has also played an important role over the centuries, and although most of the fleet is engaged in deep sea fishing there are also coastal fishing boats to be seen. Thanks to the Monte de Santa Tecla the services sector is booming. This settlement is one of the most important sites in Galician hill-fort culture. The hill is also home to the shrine of the saint of the same name, as well as a via crucis marked by monuments. It is also the venue for all the most important pilgrimages and festivities which take place in the town.