Tui

Tui (Tuy in Spanish) is a 16,902 inhabitants town in the south of Galicia, province of Pontevedra, by river Miño, very close to the border of Spain with Portugal. Tui has one of the most impressing cathedrals in Galicia and is an important touristic center. It forms an eurocity with the near Portuguese town of Valença do Minho.

How do I arrive to Tui?

  Tui is quite connected with some places in the region of Pontevedra and with Portugal too. 

• Train: the town of Tui is linked daily with Vigo (aprox. 45 minutes).
• Bus: Tui has some connections with some cities of Galicia like Vigo or Baiona.
• Car: if you rented a car, it's 30 minutes from Vigo and A Guardia, 40 minutes from Baiona and Pontevedra and 1 hour from Ourense. Tui is very close to the Portuguese border so it can also be reached in 45 minutes from Viana do Castelo and from Braga and in 1 hour 15 minutes from Porto.

History

The area where it's placed Tui has been inhabited from Pre-history, with several traces of human presence. The current town of Tui was mentioned as Tude by Roman writers around 1st century AD. In the Suebic period it became an episcopal see (around the 6th century) and in the Visigothic one, it was the temporal capital city of the subkingdom of Galicia, leaded by Wittiza. Ordoño I of Asturias repopulated Tui after the battles between Moors and Christians and in the 10th century, it was attacked by Vikings. With Portuguese independence many things realted to bilateral relationships took place here. Tui became an important town in Galicia and one of the seven capitals of the kingdom of Galicia. During the 19th and 20th centuries many inhabitants emigrated to America and to the rest of Europ. During the Spanish Civil War Tui was the last town in Galicia to be gotten by the Francoist side.    

What can I visit in Tui?

Tui Old Town is very nice and considered an unique example of medieval town with streets such as A Canicouba, Entrefornos, rua do Corpo Santo or Encerradas tunnel. Tui had also a dynamic Jewish community, visible in the Jewish quartier.

These are Tui's main attractions:

• Tui Cathedral (9-14 and 16-20; 4€/ 3.50€/ 3€  adults/ retiree/ students): 12th century cathedral and fortress (built over a Paleochristian building), enriched with chapels since its foundation, is one of the most important buildings in Galicia. In its entrance there's a beautiful porch that shows Virgin Mary's life; it's highlights are 16th ceentury bas-relief Lamentación del Cristo Muerto, Expectaction altarpiece or the Barroque-style organs. From its towers there are great views of the town.
• Tui Diocesan Museum (10-13:30 and 16-20 Tue-Sun from Jul to Sep; 1€): museum located in a former hospital for pilgrims with a vast collection that goes from archaeological remains to religious art. In the 2nd floor there's a beautiful votive offering to St. Telmo.
• Chapel of St. Telmo: 17th century church in Portuguese Baroque style, located where the Dominic saint died around the 13th century.
• Misericordia Chapel: 16th century chapel with a Renaissance-style façade and some well-preserved Easter proccesional images.
• St. Bartolomeu de Rebordáns Church (only during 20h mass): 11th century Romanesque church of small size, the oldest one in the town. It has nice 16th century frescoes.
• The town has a nice bridge designed by Pelayo Mancebo y Agreda in 1886, International Tui-Valença Vella Bridge, that comunicates both sides of the border and connects Tui with Valença do Minho.
• On the outskirts of the town there's Aloia Hill, declared Natural Park in 1978. This place seems natural but is just 100 years old, when a natural disaster destroyed it. It was rebuilt with local trees (pine trees, acacias oaks and chestnut trees) and with ages it has recovered its natural state, with plenty of animals and trails to discover it. It has an interpretation center (9-15 and 16 to 20 Tue-Sun; free)

Chapel of St. Telmo

Tui Cathedral

Castro de Santa Tegra

Continuing our way by river Miño to the sea, 30 km west from Tui, there's the municipality of A Guarda (La Guardia in Spanish). This municipality with 10,013 inhabitants is the southernmost in Galicia and 2 km south has one of the most spectacular castros in the region. It's located in Monte de Santa Tegra (Tue-Sun; 1€/ 0.50€  adults/ reduced); this partly restored Iron Age castro has also an interesting archaelogical museum (10-20 Tue-Sun from Apr to Sep; 10-19 Tue-Sun in Oct and Mar; 10-17 Tue-Sun from Nov to Feb) and a 16th century chapel. It has wonderful views of river Miño, Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean too. The municipality has also a castle, Castle of the Holy Cross (11-14 and 18-21 from May to Sep; 11-14 and 16-18 from Oct to Apr; 1€/ 0.50€  adults/ reduced), built in the 17th century to defend the population from Portuguese attacks.

Where can I eat in Tui?

The recommendations in Tui is to eat tapas; suggestions with low-middle prize are the tapas bars O Novo Cabalo Furado (praza do Concello 3) or Tapas e Viño (rúa Seixas 3). To have a drink Cafebar & Lounge Central (rúa das Monxas 3) is a good choice.

Posted in: Europe,Galicia,Spain