 Durant
& Cheryl
Imboden'sEurope for Visitors europeforvisitors.com |
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Pazo de OcaFrom: Galician Palace Gardens
ABOVE: Vases flank a path in the Pazo de Oca's gardens. INSET BELOW: The chapel (1712-1752) and manor house (1746).
Even if you don't sleep at the Pazo de Oca, you'll enjoy touring the gardens which have earned the nickname of "Galicia's Versailles." The extensive gardens include stone fountains, an artificial lake with islands shaped like boats, topiary animals, exotic trees, Baroque follies, and more. The palace itself is a lovely backdrop, and its chapel is worth a peek. (You can book the chapel for weddings, but inquire early, because the chapel and manor house are popular with Galician couples.) How to reach the Pazo de Oca: From Santiago de Compostela, head southeast (toward Lalín) on the N-525 road, which runs parallel to the AP-53 motorway. The Pazo de Oca is about 25 km or 16 km from Santiago, and the settlement of Oca is shown on Turgalicia's free Galicia tourist map. For more information, including ticket prices and visiting hours, see the Spanish Tourist Office's Pazo de Oca page. For overnight room rates and bookings, contact the pazo directly or call Turgalicia's Rural Tourism Reservation Center at +34 902 200 432. Next page: More Pazo de Oca photos
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Michelin's
Green Guide: Spain gives two stars (out of a possible three) to the
Pazo de Oca, a ranking that means the palace and its "amazing garden" are
worth a detour. What the guidebook doesn't mention is that you can actually stay
at the Pazo de Oca, which isn't a hotel but does welcome overnight guests
through Turgalicia's Rural Tourism program.