Fisterra ( Galician pronunciation: [fisˈtɛrɐ] ; Spanish : Finisterre [finisˈtere] ) is a municipality in the province of A Coruña , in the autonomous community of Galicia , Spain. It belongs to the comarca of Fisterra . Fisterra is on Cape Finisterre , an alternative final destination for pilgrims on the Way of St. James who seek to travel beyond Santiago de Compostella .
23-615: Fisterra is on the rocky Costa da Morte (Galician: "Coast of Death"), named because of the large number of shipwrecks along these shores. The name Fisterra comes from Latin FINIS TERRAE, meaning "Land's End". This name stems from the fact that this area is on a remote peninsula that is one of the westernmost points of land in Galicia, and hence in Spain. Fisterra is an ancient port and fishing village, formed by narrow streets leading to
46-641: A Celtic rite of fertility. The Phoenicians sailed from this cape to trade with Bronze Age Britain , with a possible point of landing for the Phoenician traders being Mount Batten . As it is a prominent landfall on the route from northern Europe to the Mediterranean , several naval battles took place near the Cape. Notable battles include the First Battle of Cape Finisterre in 1747 during
69-446: A transaction crossed through this latitude. Instead, the laws required that the sugar cane be shipped first from Jamaica to Britain , where it would be re-exported to Nova Scotia. Likewise, the latitude of Cape Finisterre was used to signal that a change of flags flown by Norwegian and Swedish merchant ships was required. Following independence and the subsequent union with Sweden in 1814, Norwegian merchant ships were required to fly
92-573: Is a day's walk away. There are many pre-Christian sacred locations in the area; they are connected to a variety of myths. There was an "Altar Soli" on Cape Finisterre, where the Celts engaged in sun worship and assorted rituals. Greco-Roman historians called the local residents of Cape Finisterre the "Nerios". Monte Facho was the place where the Celtic Nerios from Duio [ gl ] carried out their offerings and rites in honor of
115-575: Is a part of the Galician coast. The most common definition of the Costa da Morte states that it extends from Cape Finisterre to Malpica , although some may debate it extends from Muros to A Coruña . The Costa da Morte received its name because there have been so many shipwrecks along its treacherous rocky shore. The shore of the Costa da Morte is exposed directly to the Atlantic Ocean . It
138-668: Is a rock-bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia , Spain . In Roman times it was believed to be an end of the known world. The name Finisterre, like that of Finistère in France , derives from the Latin finis terrae , meaning "end of the earth". It is sometimes said to be the westernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula . However, Cabo da Roca in Portugal is about 16.5 kilometres (10.3 mi) farther west and thus
161-533: Is also a local legend that the wind creates wild nightmares. The Costa da Morte includes Cape Finisterre (Galician: Cabo Fisterra), a rock-bound peninsula in the uttermost west of Galicia, Spain. Contrary to popular assumption, Cape Finisterre is not the westernmost point of Spain. Instead, the westernmost landmark in Galicia and Spain is Cabo Touriñán , which is found just to the north of Fisterra. Fisterra 's name, like that of Finistère in Brittany (France),
184-593: Is an area that has suffered a number of oil spills , including the spill from the Prestige in 2002 . The exterior cape region is known for anthropological, historical and geographical reasons. Its name in the Galician language is Fisterra , which descends from the Roman legend which held that this area was the end of the world ( Finis-terrae ). The area was largely Christianized by the Catholic Church with
207-614: Is derived from the Latin word Finisterrae ; translating to "Land's End". This name was coined several centuries ago, when the Romans thought Cape Finisterre was the end of the Earth, as the American continent was unknown to the Western world at the time. Cape Finisterre has a notable lighthouse on it, and the seaside town of Fisterra is located nearby. Nevertheless, Cape Finisterre
230-567: Is not the only cape that Costa da Morte includes; one can also see Cabo Touriñán as well as Cape Vilán . The Rías Altas are located to the north. These are some of the towns, villages, hamlets and cities along the Costa da Morte: 43°06′N 9°06′W / 43.1°N 9.1°W / 43.1; -9.1 Cape Finisterre Cape Finisterre ( / ˌ f ɪ n ɪ ˈ s t ɛər / , also US : /- t ɛr i / ; Galician : Cabo Fisterra [fisˈtɛrɐ] ; Spanish : Cabo Finisterre [finisˈtere] )
253-824: The War of the Austrian Succession and the Battle of Cape Finisterre in 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars . Both these battles were between the British Royal Navy and the French Navy , who were constantly battling for control of seas during the 18th century. The coast, known locally as the Costa da Morte (Death Coast), has been the site of numerous shipwrecks and founderings, including that of
SECTION 10
#1732765687132276-450: The "holy stones", the "stained wine stones", the "stone chair", and the tomb of Orcabella . After the discovery of the remains of St. James , pilgrims on the Way of St. James started to arrive from Santiago to Fisterra to worship in front of an image of Sacred Christ, view the relics of San Guillerme, and see the "End of the Earth". In 1479, a hospital to accommodate the arriving pilgrims
299-579: The "holy stones", the "stained wine stones", the "stone chair", and the tomb of the Celtic crone-goddess Orcabella . Cape Finisterre is the final destination for many pilgrims on the Way of St. James , the pilgrimage to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela . Cape Finisterre is about 90 km (50 miles) from Santiago de Compostela . The origin of
322-632: The British ironclad HMS Captain , leading to the loss of nearly 500 lives, in 1870. Additionally, laws governing the colonies of the British Empire (including the 1766 amendment to the Sugar Act of 1764) used the latitude of Cape Finisterre as the latitude past which certain goods could not be shipped north directly between British colonies. For instance, it was forbidden to ship sugar cane directly from Jamaica to Nova Scotia , as such
345-614: The Celtic Nerios from Duio carried out their offerings and rites in honour of the sun. St. William of Gellone also lived in a house located there. Near St. William's house, sterile couples would have sexual intercourse on one specific stone to try to conceive, following a Celtic rite of fertility. During easter there is a local festival featuring the Christ of the Golden Beard. Costa da Morte Costa da Morte ( Galician: [ˈkɔstɐ ðɐ ˈmɔɾtɪ] ; "Coast of Death")
368-749: The Plaza de Ara Solis. The chapel of Nosa Señora do Bon Suceso, dating from the 18th century, is on the plaza. There is a lighthouse on a 600-metre promontory called "Monte Facho" at the tip of Cape Finisterre overlooking the Atlantic Ocean . On the road up to the lighthouse is the parish church of Santa María de Fisterra which contains the Chapel of Santo Cristo. Fisterra is 108 km from A Coruña , and 98 km from Santiago de Compostela . Fisterra has several beaches like O Rostro, Arnela, Mar de Fóra, Langosteira, Ribeira, and Corveiro. There are several rocks in this area associated with religious legends, such as
391-720: The Swedish flag (until 1818) and the Swedish flag with the Norwegian (the Dannebrog with the Norwegian lion) flag in the canton . From 1818 to 1821, Swedish merchant ships also flew this flag in place of the Swedish flag (until 1844) when sailing south of Cape Finisterre. Finisterre was the former name of the current FitzRoy sea area used in the UK Shipping Forecast . It was renamed FitzRoy in 2002 (in honour of
414-514: The aid of a large flux of Christian pilgrims arriving on the Way of St. James . The people of the area still preserve pre-Christian ritual places and pass on some of the traditional beliefs. For example, there are giant pedras de abalar (i.e. "oscillating stones", the common term in English is rocking stone ) throughout the region. These pedras de abalar were sacred locations and used in various rituals that are remembered in local culture. There
437-598: The area. Cape Finisterre has several beaches, including O Rostro, Arnela, Mar de Fora, Langosteira, Riveira, and Corbeiro. Many of the beaches are framed by steep cliffs leading down to the Mare Tenebrosum (or dark sea, the name of the Atlantic in the Middle Ages ). The peninsula contains the port and municipality of Fisterra . There are several rocks in this area associated with religious legends, such as
460-430: The pilgrimage to Finisterre is not certain. However, it is believed to date from pre-Christian times and was possibly associated with Finisterre's status as the "edge of the world" and a place to see the last sun of the day. The tradition continued in medieval times, when "hospitals" were established to cater to pilgrims along the route from Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre. Some pilgrims continue on to Muxía , which
483-536: The sun. Monte Facho is the site of current archaeological investigations and there is evidence of habitation on Monte Facho circa 1000 BCE. There is a Roman Road to the top of Monte Facho and the remnants of ancient structures on the mountain. San Guillerme, also known as St. William of Penacorada , lived in a house located on Monte Facho. Near San Guillerme's house is a stone now known as "St William's Stone" ( Pedra de San Guillerme ). Sterile couples used to copulate on St. William's Stone to try to conceive, following
SECTION 20
#1732765687132506-491: The westernmost point of continental Europe . Even in Spain Cabo Touriñán is 124 metres (135 yards) farther west. Monte Facho is the name of the mountain on Cape Finisterre, which has a peak that is 238 metres (781 ft) above sea level. A prominent lighthouse is at the top of Monte Facho. The seaside town of Fisterra is nearby. The Artabri were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe that once inhabited
529-460: Was built. Many of the pilgrims were noblemen or otherwise famous. Thousands of visitors continue to arrive in Fisterra every day. In the area there are many remnants of pre-Christian beliefs and sacred locations. On Cape Finisterre, some claim that there is the "Altar Soli", where the Celts engaged in sun worship and assorted rituals. The Monte Facho, on Cape Finisterre , was the place where
#131868