Route 1. Sisalde-Arteixo Coast. History

Arteixo is a coastal village with important Celtic and Roman influence. The term “Arteixo” is considered as word of pre-Roman origin. There are several theories about its origin. One of them starts in the root art- (concavity) alluding to its orography as ‘valley with flat bottom and inclined slopes’. It is also considered a derivation of the root ar- referred to water and river currents.

The Ártabros Celtic tribe that inhabited the area until the arrival of Julius Caesar’s troops in the year 62 AD might have contributed to the formation of the place name. In the municipality there are archaeological remains from the Paleolithic Age and in the excavations carried out at the Coastal Site of O Reiro (Chamín) a Mesolithic community and traces of the stone tool industry and mineral prospecting from the pre-Roman era have been found.

The Romans occupied these lands and created a link between A Coruña and the lands of Bergantiños: the Via XX road that can still be seen in the village. The most representative monument of this era can be seen along the river stretch of the route, crossing the stream of Bolaños: the Ponte dos Brozos. It is one of the few authentic Roman bridges that still remain in the whole of Galicia. It is formed by two arches and access ramps with its original paving. It was restored in the nineteenth century.

During the Middle Ages, it was a passing point on one of the pilgrimage routes going to Santiago de Compostela. At that time the municipality was dominated by several manors such as Anteiro, and did not constitute a single territorial unit. Significant Romanesque style churches were built, some of which were cited in writings from the twelfth century and in the testament of Doña Urraca, such as those in Morás and in Monteagudo. The latter was erected at the end of that century, and is the biggest one in Romanesque style in the area. It is a temple with a basilical plan with three naves and three semi-cylindrical apses with small windows, formed by round arches.