Fisterra (Finisterre) and Muxia

Finisterre or Finis Terrae in Latin (Fisterra in local dialect) was the end of the known world in the age before Columbus sailed to the new world.  (Interestingly, his ship the Santa Maria was built and launched not far down the coast from here in Pontevedra). Many of the pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela in earlier centuries continued on to Finisterre before returning home.  

My visit to Finis Terrae was in the rain and with cloudy weather.  I was surprised to find a Camino trail marker with the distance 0.0 kilometers on it but there it was!  (In my opinion, Kilometer 0.0 is in Santiago de Compostela at the Cathedral). There was also a Camino trail marker in Muxia.  The trail is marked because it is possible to walk to both destinations from Santiago de Compostela. However, I did not walk the trails to these destinations. 

Muxia has a church at the location of an earlier sacred spot for people.  The rocks along the coast directly in front of the church are said to have magical effects and people continue to follow traditions related to them. The church here is also believed to hold the remains of a rock boat used by the Virgin Mary to visit Saint James. It is known as the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Barca.

There appears to be no question that people have been coming to and living along this coast for some time.  The evidence ranges from rock art and prehistoric "Dolmen" rock structures thought to mark the winter solstice, to the circular remains of 6th Century BC Celtic buildings. I've included a photograph of  a favorite spot of mine down the coast from here with the distinctive remains of the circular Celtic structures. There are also photographs of a Dolmen and from Muxia and Finisterre.