When we talk about beautiful or charming places, the first thing that comes to mind to someone from Ourense is the Town of Allariz (Vila de Allariz). And if we add the word autumn, it already becomes a must-see place during the months when the leaf falls.
Just 23 km from the city of Ourense, is this beautiful Town of Allariz, the ideal place for a weekend walk either in company or on your own, and during the autumn months a paradise for photography lovers.
Ideal for a quiet walk
The Arnoia River runs through the town, and along one of the riversides of it runs the Paseo del Arnado, a beautiful route that connects with the historic center of the town and that can be done as a circular route passing through its old town.
Starting from the Alameda, we can follow a path along the riverside until we reach one of the most beautiful areas: the Arnado.
In this beautiful area you can enjoy a spectacular combination of colors, and at the same time see one of the symbols of Allariz: the romanesque bridge of Vilanova (puente románico de Vilanova).
After enjoying beautiful views along the river, we cross the bridge to enter the center of the town. Declared as historical-artistic site in 1971, the historic center of Allariz after years of work for its recovery, received the European Prize for Urban Planning Space in 1994.
It is recommended to take a walk among its narrow streets to enjoy its wonderful architecture, and if you feel strong enough to walk to the highest point, then visit a place called Penedo da Vela (an old fortress-castle), where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the town.
Outlets and crafts, ideal for shopping
Allariz is also known for the number of outlet stores and artisans available in its historic center. As they are open on Sundays and holidays, it becomes another reason for visiting the town. In this shopping area there are outlets of different brands and all kinds of items.
To end the visit to the center, we need to reach the upper part where we will find the convent of Santa Clara (convento de Santa Clara) that has the largest baroque cloister in Spain, and in front of if you have the Campo da Barreira where an open-air market is held monthly.
Once visited the historic center, we return to the river but through the other side. There we will find an old tanning factory in which leather was treated, but which currently functions as a restaurant and museum. The views are beautiful and it is a haven of tranquility, a recommended place to have a drink or a meal, either on their terrace or their balcony.
This area of the river is beautiful and an amazing place for photography lovers.
Gastronomy and events
And since gastronomy could not be left aside, you cannot leave Allariz without trying the famous Almendrados de Allariz. It is a typical dessert of the area, made with ground almonds and eggs, delicious!
Bonus: during the spring and summer, theInternacional Garden Festival is held in Allariz. Under a different theme every year, gardens elaborated by people from different parts of the world are exhibited, and among them a winner will come out thanks to the votes of the visitors.
On the other hand, at the end of May it is celebrated a festival similar to San Fermines called Festa do Boi. It is a traditional festival, in which people have to run in front of an ox in the center of the village. There is no animal sacrifice, the ox just walks around the village. We will talk about this party during our visit to the Town of Allariz..
The visit to Allariz during the autumn is incredible, but you can also visit it at any time of the year. If you want to visit this beautiful town with us, it is included in the regular tour Ribeira Sacra Monasteries and towns of Ourense along with other nearby places of interest such as Baños de Molgas or Maceda.
If you are interested in us organizing a private visit, you can request the productTours, Activities and Personalized Stays, we will be happy to help you! We will make sure that you visit all the places of interest, and we will also surprise you with other visits.
