The
Brañas de Sar
represent an important ecosystem that is located in the basin of the river of the same name and that extends from the vicinity of the Multipurpose Fontes do Sar to the neighborhood of Pontepedriña.
These wetlands make up a route of four kilometers and cover an area of 33 hectares, which invite you to go into the rural Santiago and, at the same time, to know some of the main assets that make up the cultural and architectural heritage of the Galician capital.
The brañas are partially flooded areas where the livestock of small farms grazed in the past. In his day, the neighbors of the locality went to the banks of the Sar to bathe and to have a snack with their loved ones.
The passage of the Sar river is located in the small valley between the Viso, Gaiás and das Santas Mariñas mountains, where several elements of great historical interest were found. Coinciding with the start of the construction works of the Cidade da Cultura, in 2000, a detailed study of the environment of Monte Gaiás was promoted.
This research favored the discovery of some vestiges of the agricultural activities carried out in the Brañas do Sar since the 5th century.
The area was used for farming and other types of trades, as evidenced by the remains of five mills and the canal system present in the area, the washing places, the walls and the stone bridges that can be seen along its route.
In fact, the itinerary underwent an intense restoration action between 2015 and 2016, through clearing tasks, pruning, removal of invasive species or consolidation of paths. In addition, several actions were carried out to develop urban vegetable gardens on unused public land for use by residents.
Along the route of this itinerary, visitors can enjoy its abundant pastures and tree species, such as willows, birches and oaks, and get to know one of the main fluvial ecosystems surrounding the city of Santiago.
On the other hand, it is a route of high patrimonial and monumental interest. Through its paths, you can contemplate the Romanesque bridge, the transept and the Collegiate Church of Santa María a Maior e Real do Sar or the Chapel of Santas Mariñas.
