Parador de Baiona 4*

Situated at the entrance to the Vigo estuary, the Parador was once Baiona's castle and the town's first line of defence against the invading English. Nowadays, its idyllic position on a promontory overlooking the water and surrounded by pine and eucalyptus woods make it a popular stopover for visitors to Galicia. A walk around the parapet reveals rocky islands, small, empty beaches and glorious views of the river estuaries whilst inside there is a famously good restaurant and excellent facilities including an outdoor pool (June-Sept), sauna, jacuzzi and tennis courts which all go to make this a really fabulous place to stay.

Baiona was an important trading port back in the 15th century and today has to be one of the most historic ports in Europe, as it was to here that Columbus returned on the Pinta to reveal he had discovered the New World. Nowadays it is one of Galicia's main summer resorts and in the harbour there is a remake of the Pinta which serves as a small floating museum. You can walk around the town walls from where there are some superb views of the bay and beyond or, heading west out of town, there is a stone statue of the Virgen de la Roca which, when open, allows you to climb up inside and take in your surroundings from the viewing point held in her hand. Elsewhere, the centre of town is full of cobbled lanes lined with lively tapas bars, restaurants and cafés, each offering a tempting array of tasty snacks and refreshing drinks.