Cemiterio de Leiloio

Leiloio Cemetery is a small, quiet parish cemetery in the village of Leiloio, part of the municipality of Malpica de Bergantiños, in the province of A Coruña, Galicia. It sits right next to the parish church of Santa María de Leiloio, at a spot known as A Pedrosa, forming a single compact religious complex typical of the rural parishes of the Bergantiños region.

What does the church next to the cemetery look like?

The parish church of Santa María de Leiloio, beside which the cemetery lies, follows a Latin cross floor plan. Its most recognizable feature is a square bell tower topped with a dome and decorated with rounded pinnacles — the element that makes the building stand out from a distance across the sparsely built-up parish. The site's history reaches back to the Middle Ages: in the mid-12th century, María Fernández de Traba, daughter of Fernando Pérez de Traba, one of the most powerful feudal families in Galicia, donated her share of the rights to the church of Santa María de Leiloio to the cathedral chapter of Santiago de Compostela. This shows how closely this small parish was once tied to the great centers of ecclesiastical power in Galicia.

Why is Leiloio associated with witch legends?

The parish of Leiloio, together with neighboring Buño, is known regionally for a rich oral tradition of legends passed down through generations. The best known concerns Eira das Meigas, a circular space at the summit of Monte Neme, which rises above the surrounding countryside. According to local belief, this is where witches gather to dance on the night of San Xoán (the night of June 23-24). The following morning, residents were said to witness an unusual phenomenon — the "dance of the sun" as it opens the new day, reportedly visible only on that single day of the year. The Eira das Meigas itself is also distinctive in natural terms: it is home to "herba campía," a type of grass not found anywhere else in the area, which reinforced local belief in the site's special character.

In 2014, a workshop on local legends was held at Casa do Oleiro, where elderly residents of Leiloio and Buño shared extensive knowledge of local mythology inherited from their ancestors. These activities are part of the municipality's linguistic revitalization program, supported by the Galician regional government, which aims to protect local intangible heritage, including the Galician language and oral traditions.

How to get there and what to expect?

The cemetery is located at A Pedrosa, right next to the parish church, at the heart of the rural parish of Leiloio, within the municipality of Malpica de Bergantiños. This is a contemplative rather than a classically touristic destination — visitors are mostly people interested in local history, Galician religious architecture, and the legends of the Bergantiños region, rather than mass tourism. It's worth combining a visit with a walk through the surrounding hills, including Monte Neme, tied to the witch legends described above.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Leiloio Cemetery located? In the village of Leiloio, at the site of A Pedrosa, in the municipality of Malpica de Bergantiños, province of A Coruña, right next to the parish church of Santa María de Leiloio.

What makes the architecture of the church next door distinctive? A Latin cross floor plan and a square bell tower topped with a dome and decorated with rounded pinnacles.

What is the history of the Leiloio parish? It dates back to the Middle Ages — in the mid-12th century María Fernández de Traba donated her share of rights over the church to the cathedral chapter of Santiago de Compostela.

What legends are tied to this place? The legend of witches dancing at Eira das Meigas, atop nearby Monte Neme, on the night of San Xoán, and the tale of the "dance of the sun" said to be visible the following morning.