The third piece of the stone puzzle that makes up the Virgin’s legendary boat in Muxía is the discreet Rudder Rock. As its name evokes, it is identified with the part that guided the celestial boat to Punta da Barca.
Unlike its rocky sisters, the imposing “Piedra de Abalar” and the healing “Pedra dos Cadrís,” the “Piedra del Timón” usually goes unnoticed by many of those who participate in the fervent “Virgen de la Barca de Muxía” Festival. No specific divine properties or associated rituals are attributed to it.
In fact, its location in the vicinity of the Sanctuary often generates confusion among visitors, who in many cases fail to identify it in the rocky landscape. Its presence is quieter, a discreet witness to the founding legend of this sacred place.
However, even if it doesn’t draw crowds or elicit specific rituals, the Rudder Rock remains an essential part of the story. It represents the guidance, the direction that brought hope and comfort to these shores. Its apparent invisibility does not diminish its importance in the complete account of the Virgin’s arrival.
Discovering the “Piedra del Timón during” the “Virgen de la Barca de Muxía” Festival thus becomes an act of exploration, a personal search for the piece that completes the narrative. Although silent, its presence reminds us that each element, no matter how small or discreet it may seem, has its place in the rich tapestry of Muxía’s legend and tradition.
