Travel Guide Padrón

Twenty-eight kilometres south of Santiago de Compostela, the former Iria Flavia, capital of Roman Galicia, was, according to legend, the illustrious landing site of the Apostle James, patron saint of Spain. The town takes its name from the large stone that was used to moor the boat containing his remains. A Roman stone is on display under the altar of the Santiago del Padrón church. Padrón was also the birthplace of two great literary figures: Camilo José Cela, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1989 and Rosalía de Castro, promoter of the Galician language. If you wish to follow in her footsteps, you can visit the Casa de la Matanza, the house where she lived and died, now converted into a museum. Or go to the banks of the river to follow a shady walk that she often mentioned in her poems. Another special feature of this town is its green chillies, which are known throughout Spain and are the subject of an annual festival held in Herbón on thefirst weekend in August. If you are in Padrón on a Sunday morning, you can buy them at the market or eat them in any of the bars where they are served, grilled or as tapas. Beware, sensitive palates! Padrón can be reached from Santiago via the AP-9 motorway. The town is well served by bus, with many connections from Santiago, with the company Arriva. The municipal tourist office (http://padron.gal/) is located on Avenida de Compostela. It is closed on Monday and Sunday afternoons