Poio town hall

Poio town hall is the seat of the local government of Poio, a municipality on the northern shore of the Ría de Pontevedra in Galicia, Spain. The building serves as the administrative hub for a municipality made up of five parishes — San Salvador, San Xoán, Combarro, Samieira and Raxó — and sits within easy reach of some of the most photographed corners of the Rías Baixas coastline.

Where exactly is Poio?

Poio stretches along the mouth of the Lérez river where it meets the Atlantic, bordering the city of Pontevedra on one side and the resort town of Sanxenxo to the south. That position gives visitors the best of both worlds: quick access to a provincial capital and a lively coastal resort, while the municipality itself keeps the slower, fishing-village rhythm typical of rural Galicia. The village of Poio itself, in the San Salvador parish, sits almost across the river from Pontevedra's old town.

What's worth seeing near the town hall?

The municipality's headline attraction is Combarro, a historic fishing settlement protected as a site of cultural interest. Its shoreline is lined with tightly packed granite granaries raised on stone pillars (hórreos), and its narrow lanes are dotted with stone crosses (cruceiros). It's one of the images most often used to represent Galicia in tourism material, and it draws visitors looking for an authentic, lived-in fishing village rather than a reconstructed one.

The second major landmark is the Mosteiro de San Xoán de Poio, a monastery with roots going back to the early medieval period and long ties to Benedictine monastic life in the region. Its terraced gardens overlook the river and make for a calm stop after a walk through Combarro's lanes.

Travelers who want sun and sand can head to the sandy coves in the Raxó and Samieira parishes, where the view opens onto the Ría de Pontevedra with the Ons Islands visible on the horizon.

Getting there, and what the town hall itself is for

The municipal building in Poio is primarily an administrative office — locals and visitors can stop by for information on festivals, local events, or the walking paths connecting the different parishes. For most travelers it functions as a landmark near the center of the municipality rather than a sightseeing stop in itself, useful for orienting a route toward Combarro or the monastery.

Poio is easiest to reach by car or bus from Pontevedra, linked across the Lérez river by a bridge — the crossing typically takes only a few minutes. Cycling or walking along the coast is also a good option, since the distances between the main points of interest (the village, Combarro, the monastery) are relatively short.

Frequently asked questions

Is Poio a separate town from Pontevedra? Yes. Poio is its own municipality (concello) in the province of Pontevedra, though it borders the city of Pontevedra directly and is closely tied to it economically and by transport links.

What's the main attraction in the Poio municipality? Combarro, by far — its waterfront hórreos and narrow stone streets make it one of the most visited and photographed spots on the Rías Baixas coast.

How much time do you need to visit Poio? Half a day covers Combarro and the San Xoán monastery comfortably, but plan for a full day if you also want to reach the beaches in Raxó or Samieira.

Does Poio have beaches? Yes, several sandy beaches lie in the Raxó and Samieira parishes, facing the ría with views toward the Ons Islands.

Can you visit Poio without a car? Yes — frequent bus connections from Pontevedra make it easy to reach, and the short distances between the main sights make walking or cycling a practical way to get around once there.