Well, the origin of the Fiesta de la Barca in Muxía comes from an ancient legend that tells of the miraculous arrival of the Virgin Mary in a stone boat to encourage Santiago the Apostle in his mission of preaching Christianity in Galicia.

From this legend, the Virgin of the Boat became a figure venerated by sailors and fishermen of the region, who pray to her for protection from the dangers of the sea and to obtain good catches.

This veneration of the figure of the Virgin Mary gave rise to the fiesta de la barca, the most important event of which is the maritime procession in which a replica of the stone boat that brought the Virgin always leaves, all of this while being decorated with flowers and flags.

During the procession, the local streets are traversed until it reaches the Muxía cove, ending with a ceremony in which the boats are blessed to ensure a prosperous and safe year at sea.

During the procession in question, there is also the music of bagpipes and songs. Beyond the central act that is embodied in the procession, the truth is that the Fiesta de la Barca has other festive events that range from the celebration of different liturgies in its honour to the performance of traditional music concerts and folk dances.

In addition, a series of celebrations on the sea take place at this festival to conclude the festive day. A festival that also includes the best of local gastronomy, as both artisans and local merchants display their products at fairs and markets in the area. In this way, attendees can eat the best fish and taste the best wines. locals to buy handmade ceramic pieces and other artistic creations that showcase the great talent of the area’s artisans.