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that were being practised at that time. However, Muxía’s main claim to fame and
the reason why it is so intimately connected to the Santiago story is to be found in
the legend of the Our Lady of the Boat Nosa Señora da Barca and the Sanctuary
at the headland Santuario da Virxe da Barca. A popular pilgrimage site in its own
right and associated with the Virgin Mary who, the legend claims, came here in a
boat made of stone to help St. James in his ministry. St. James, feeling that he had
failed in his mission to convert the population of Finisterre from their worship of
the sun, travelled to this remote place for rest and succour. As he prayed he saw a
boat with the Virgin Mary aboard, ‘full of mystery and majesty’, approaching the
headland. The Virgin assured him that his ministry had in fact been successful and
that his work here was done and he should return to Jerusalem.
The boat in which she travelled is petrified in the stones we see here on the headland.
The most obvious is the stone sail Pedra dos Cadris (see photo previous page) which
reputedly has miraculous powers of healing – pass under the stone 9 times to be
cured of rheumatism and associated ailments. The rudder stone Pedra do Timón and
rocking hull Pedra da Abalar are nearby. This latter stone moves on its axis and was
used to prove innocence or guilt of any accused brought before it. It was cracked
during a storm in 1978 but its powers of attraction remain undiminished. Nearby is
the lovers’ stone Pedra dos Namorados where couples come to pledge their love.
Watching over all this activity is the austere 18th century sanctuary dedicated to
the Virgin. You can approach it either by a pedestrian way that skirts around the
small conical hillock Monte Corpiño and known as the Way of the Skin Camiño
da Pel so called because a fountain here was used by pilgrims to wash and purify
themselves before entering the sanctuary. Just above the sanctuary by the stone
monument is another smaller paved path that goes to the top of the conical hill
81 metres high and a 400m climb to the top where there is a fine 360° view of the
village and coastline and harbour. To return to the town centre take the Rua Virxe
da Barca that connects the sanctuary with the harbour area. Along this way is the
14th century parish church of Saint Mary Iglesia de Santa Maria built in what is
known as the coastal-Gothic style gótica-marinero.
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