MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL ARRIBADA – BAIONA

Every year, during the first weekend of March, Baiona holds these big medieval celebrations of International Tourism Value, in order to celebrate that this was the first European port to receive the news of the discovery of America. For two days, this event and the lives of the villagers in 1493 are re-enacted.

During the Arribada, both the old town of Baiona and its inhabitants are transformed, travelling back in time to 1493, to celebrate the anniversary of the disembarking of Martín Alonso Pinzón (the Spanish navigator and explorer who sailed with Christopher Columbus in his first travel to the New World, in 1492, as the captain of La Pinta). This disembarking, bringing the news that the New World had been discovered, is the most remarkable event in the history of Baiona and one of the most important events in the history of Spain.
Baiona was the first European port to receive the news about the discovery of America, and messengers departed from here in order to inform the Catholic Monarchs about the success of the mission by Christopher Columbus.

During the two celebration days, the visitors will find a huge medieval street market with food and handmade products typical in that period. Buffoons, rogues, beggars, troubadours and other different characters fill this event with a medieval hustle and bustle that attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all the corners of the Iberian Peninsula every year.

The main event of the festivities is the re-enactment of the arrival of La Pinta, which takes place on Ribeira beach late in the evening. Neighbours from the village recreate, with historical accuracy, how La Pinta arrived in Baiona and how the learnt of the existence of America for the first time.

This historical drama intends to make the audience relive the glorious moment when La Pinta returned to Baiona on 1st March 1493, following the greatest sailing feet of all times: the discovery of America.

During the two days of celebration, the streets of the old town are full of leisure activities, the most remarkable of which are the medieval Olympics, archery, the knights’ training and fencing.

Another famous attraction, receiving more and more people every year, is the medieval tournament in which the knights fight for the princess’ heart on Ribeira beach. You can watch a jousting tournament, dart-throwing and quintain knock-downs, with knights, squires and halberdiers demonstrating their skills.
The falconry exhibitions with prey birds as eagles are also remarkable.

The Arribada is a celebration for all audiences. Come with your children and enjoy the activities especially designed for them so that the whole family can enjoy this unique and unforgettable experience.

Children will make the most of this special celebration, with medieval activities in different places of the old town, including the medieval carousel, the shadow theatre, the rocking caravel or the medieval traditional games.

The Arribada offers another point of interest for the visitor, the Museum of Navigation of Baiona, a space that shows the seafaring vocation of the town throughout history and in which you can contemplate very diverse material, from replicas of old ships to archeological pieces found in the bay during the expansion of the fishing port.

Discover the complete experience of the Medieval festival Arribada and arrive by boat in Baiona with Naviera Mar de Ons.
The Arribada is held every year on the first weekend in March, and on both Saturday and Sunday, a series of activities and animations set in the year 1493 are programmed – which begin at ten o’clock in the morning and end around eleven o’clock at night.

On the Saturday, around ten in the morning, the start of the Arribada Celebration is announced with the explosion of cannons, and the medieval market opening takes place, followed by a series of activities and entertainments throughout the morning.

Around four in the afternoon, the activities continue with the Knights’ Tournament celebration on the Ribeira beach, where you also can admire a great horse-riding falconry show.

This first day of celebration ends with the representation of the play Arribada de La Pinta Caravel, held on the Ribeira Beach at 8 pm. This is the main event in the Arribada Celebration. After the play, a firework display marks the end of the Saturday events.

On the Sunday, you can hear the cannons again at ten in the morning, marking the start of the second celebration day.
During the morning, the medieval Olympics take place, including archery, fencing and falconry. The events scheduled for the morning are topped with the medieval parade through the Arribada Royal Market.

In the afternoon, approximately from 4 pm onwards, the scheduled activities continue, including a medieval music concert and a fire show.
Finally, three Lombard shots announce the closure of the Royal Market and the shows and call upon the visitors to attend the next edition.

If you travel with Naviera Mar de Ons to 1493, in addition to traveling to the past, you can enjoy a discount on your second trip. These advantages are only for our customers! When you make your reservation, use that booking reference to get your discount on your next trip, and discover with us many more destinations. The Cíes Islands, the Ons Island and the San Simón Island are waiting for you!