Free walking tours in Quiroga and what to see

Must-sees

Quiroga is a town in south-east Lugo province, in the Sil valley, within the Ribeira Sacra and the Montañas do Courel UNESCO Global Geopark. Its mild climate allows vineyards and olive trees, something rare in Galicia. In town, the Geological Museum is worth a visit, explaining how the land formed with rocks, minerals and fossils, as is the Ethnographic Museum, devoted to wine, chestnuts and traditional life.

The surroundings are even more interesting. The Roman tunnel of Montefurado was dug to divert the Sil and work its bed in the search for gold. On top of Monte do Castelo are the ruins of Torrenovaes castle, and in Torbeo there is a Romanesque church of monastic origin. The Bustelo viewpoint gives a good panorama of the valley, and the Serra do Courel, with forests and waterfalls such as Vieiros, is a short distance away.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in Quiroga. Most people visit the town on their own and arrange guided visits to the museums for groups. The Geopark runs routes and landscape interpretation activities at different times of year, and the tourist office has information on trails in the Courel. If you are staying in Monforte de Lemos, Quiroga makes a good day trip.

How long to spend

Three or four hours are enough for the town and its museums. If you add Montefurado, the castle and the Bustelo viewpoint, allow a full day with a car. With two or three days you can head into the Serra do Courel and do one of its walking routes. The roads in the valley and the hills are narrow and winding, so allow plenty of time for journeys.

Where to stay

The most convenient base is the town of Quiroga itself, by the Sil road, where services and restaurants are concentrated. If you want to sleep in the middle of nature, there are rural houses in the municipality's hamlets and on the way up to the Courel, though you will depend on the car. Choice is limited, and O Barco de Valdeorras or Monforte de Lemos, half an hour or a little more away, are alternatives with more beds.