More tourist sights in Tui

Although the city's fortified cathedral is its biggest tourist draw, there is plenty more to look at in Tui. We felt that the town's strongest suit was the overall impression it leaves with a visitor and, in particular, its many narrow streets and traditional Galician buildings. That said the old town does have some other stand-alone attractions that any tourist can pick up on as they walk around.

Close to the plaza at the top of the old district are a couple of churches, the most notable of which is the church of Saint Francis. This church was finished in the seventeen twenties and was once part of a Franciscan convent. It is of typical Galician design and granite construction.

Surrounding the east façade of the cathedral are a clutch of other old buildings including what is now the museum containing the diocesan records. The Saint Telmo church and chapel of Mercy are also adjacent to the cathedral and a large section of the original town wall is also in very close proximity.

A collection of three interconnected buildings, again very close to the cathedral, make up the convent and church of the Cloistered Nuns. There has been a religious building of some form or other on this site for several hundred years and the nuns, of the Saint Claire order, have had a community here since 1508. The church can be entered and is said to have an altar of great significance.

Iglesia de Santo Domingo

The church and convent of Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic) are set in a small park area that is in fact the old town's alameda. This church is a ten minute walk from the cathedral and sits above the river with Portugal only a few hundred metres away. The churches construction started in the fifteenth century and it was initially located outside the original town walls. This situation was later remedied when, in the seventeenth century, planning changes and an extension of the town's curtliage saw the new boundary encompass the church. Most of the church is of a Gothic design, but later Galician Baroque additions are also present. Within the church is an important and decorative altar originating from 1744 and recent renovations have restored the building to its former glory. Little of the original convent remains.

Also of interest are the churches grounds and namely the alameda. This area is landscaped and has a water feature and part of an old cloister, but its primary tourist appeal is the mirador balcony at one end. This mirador offers superb views looking up at Tui and is one of the best points from which to photograph the cathedral in its entirety. A few metres down the road from the church lies a section of the 17th century wall (right) with an archway under which the road passes.

Tui also has a good sized shopping area and several interesting modern sculptures.

What we thought of Tui

Getting to Tui involved our making a two hour journey, but we liked this small and compact city and in particular its medieval district. We saw Tui at its worst on a dull and intermittently rainy day, but we still enjoyed wondering around and its cathedral is worth the effort on its own. Tui is only a short distance from A Gaurda, Baiona and several other towns in Pontevedra province and can easily be slotted into a day of exploration. In summary, worth visiting if you are in southern Pontevedra.

Left, the church below the old town and adjacent to the alameda,