Hotels in Vilanova de Arousa

Vilanova de Arousa

Vilanova de Arousa sits on the eastern shore of the Ría de Arousa, the largest estuary in the Rías Baixas, in Pontevedra province, Galicia. The town is the birthplace of Ramón del Valle-Inclán, the Spanish modernist writer born here in 1866 — a fact that sets Vilanova apart from the many fishing villages lining the same ría. A small museum and a commemorative statue mark his legacy in the town centre.

The economy and identity of Vilanova are shaped by the sea. Hundreds of bateas — wooden mussel-farming rafts — float across the ría, making this one of Spain's most productive shellfish zones. Visitors come for the seafood markets, the waterfront promenade, and boat trips across to Illa de Arousa, the only inhabited island in the Rías Baixas, connected to the mainland by a 1,540-metre bridge. The local O Grove peninsula and the nature reserve of the Complexo Intermareal Umia-O Grove lie within easy reach, drawing birdwatchers and walkers.

Vilanova lies roughly 25 km north of Pontevedra city and about 35 km south of Santiago de Compostela airport, making it a practical base for exploring the Rías Baixas coast. The town's main accommodation is concentrated near the harbour and along the Avenida de Villagarcía. Local transport connects to Vilagarcía de Arousa, the larger commercial hub 4 km north.