Gothic-style church built in the second half of the 14th century under the patronage of Fernán Pérez de Andrade, who rebuilt an earlier monastery dating from the 12th century. It was declared a National Monument in 1919 and later designated a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC). Inside, the main chapel features a relief depicting God enthroned and surrounded by the four Evangelists. Angels playing different instruments, one of them a bagpipe, appear on the ribs of the vault, along with capitals decorated with fantastic animals. Particularly noteworthy is the extensive collection of sarcophagi belonging to various members of the Andrade family. The tomb of Fernán Pérez de Andrade, considered a precursor of medieval funerary sculpture, originally stood in the main chapel next to that of his wife Doña Sancha, but was moved in 1782 to the foot of the church beneath the choir. The sarcophagus is raised above the ground on the Andrade family’s symbolic animals, a bear and a wild boar, with the family coat of arms at the head and foot, hunting scenes of wild boar along the sides, and the recumbent figure of Andrade portrayed in armor in a resting position.
General Map
An overall view of Betanzos and all its main tourist resources
Church and Convent of San Francisco
14th-century Gothic temple declared a BIC, with extraordinary tombs of the Andrade family and rich sculptural decoration.
Historic Centre Route
Route through Betanzos’ historic centre, a historic-artistic ensemble, covering the medieval enclosure and its main monuments and churches.
Modernism Route
Urban route that visits the main examples of modernist and eclectic architecture in Betanzos, reflecting its urban development in the late 19th century.
Trades Route
Cultural route that explores Betanzos through traditional trades and the spaces where the city’s artisanal and commercial life developed.
Betanzos in the Feminine Route
Cultural route that explores Betanzos from a gender perspective, highlighting the contribution of women to the city’s history and culture.
García Naveira Brothers Routes
Chapel of Our Lady of Amparo
Neoclassical chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Amparo, with a simple façade and granite niche housing the Virgin’s image.
Magdalena Chapel
Small 18th-century chapel, heir to a former medieval hospital for lepers under the dedication of Saint Lazarus.
Santa María Stone Cross
Stone cross located in the historic centre of Betanzos.
Municipal Cemetery
Convent of the Augustinian Recollects
17th–18th century convent with a 16th-century cloister, historic coats of arms and valuable altarpieces from the Compostela School.
Convent of Donas
Former medieval convent with origins in the 11th century, linked to As Donas and the Las Cascas priory, now partially in ruins.
Town Hall
Neoclassical Town Hall designed by Ventura Rodríguez, with historic coats of arms and an outstanding art collection inside.
Municipal Clock Tower
16th-century municipal tower attached to the Church of Santiago, hexagonal in plan and featuring a clock decorated with wind reliefs.
Porta da Vila
Former medieval gate of Betanzos, also known as the Royal Gate, decorated with the coats of arms of Galicia, Castile and León, and the city.
Christ Gate
Medieval gate of Betanzos’ historic centre, also known as Porta da Ribeira or Porta de Paio Fermoso, built in the 15th century.
Old Bridge Gate
15th-century medieval gate that preserves the portcullis guides and served as a control point for the weights of market goods.
New Bridge Gate
15th-century medieval gate, the best preserved in the city, with remains of towers and a pointed double inner arcade.
Lanzós Tower
Tower of great historical interest linked to the Irmandiño revolts, rebuilt between the 17th and 18th centuries, an example of a tower with a hat-shaped roof.
Archive–Liceo Building
18th-century neoclassical building created to house the Archive of the Kingdom of Galicia and now home to the Liceo of Betanzos.
Former Hospital of San Antonio
Orphans’ School
18th-century building with balcony and city coat of arms, founded as a school and now used for municipal services.
Gothic House or Vilousaz House
16th-century Gothic house built for Lope García de Vilousaz, with a conopial arch and noble coat of arms on the façade.
Couceiro Pharmacy
Couceiro Pharmacy, operating since the late 17th century, the oldest commercial establishment in Galicia.
Guild Dances
Ancient medieval guild dances of Betanzos, such as the sailors’ arch dance and the farmers’ dance, preserving traditional attire.
As Balconadas
Artist's Perspectives Route
A rediscovery of Betanzos through guided routes, exhibitions and diverse artistic perspectives that reinterpret its heritage and historical memory.
Mariñas Coruñesas and Terras do Mandeo Biosphere Reserve
Pelamios River
Area of great scenic beauty with remains of 19 traditional watermills, now crossed by a hiking route.
Mendo River
Mandeo River
The Mandeo River stands out for its rich fish fauna and for hosting the Os Caneiros pilgrimage, the largest non-religious pilgrimage in Galicia.
Betanzos Estuary
The Betanzos estuary, a protected Natura 2000 area, brings together the Mendo and Mandeo rivers and stands out for its landscape and wildlife richness.
Casa Pita
1906 modernist building on Valdoncel Street, designed by Matías Witz, restored and characterised by balconies and an upper cornice.
Casa del Pueblo (People’s House)
Building promoted in 1917 thanks to the legacy of Jesús García Naveira for the Federation of Workers’ Societies of Betanzos.
Jesús García Naveira School
Os Cabildos or San Francisco Schools, built in 1917, a unique example of modernist architecture with Islamic and Baroque references.
García Naveira Schools
Schools built in 1908 by the García Naveira brothers, eclectic in style, with innovative educational methods and now housing social services.
García Naveira Brothers’ House
French-influenced building built in 1890 as the home and business of Juan García Naveira, notable for its use of marble and commemorative plaque.
Casa Núñez
Modernist building by Rafael González Villar combining architecture, commerce and art, now home to the CIEC Foundation.
Four Seasons Fountain
Monumental fountain inspired by the Louvois fountain in Paris, decorated with female figures representing the four seasons.
Diana the Huntress Fountain
Monumental fountain inaugurated in 1867, a replica of the Diana of the Louvre and one of Betanzos’ most recognisable urban symbols.
Alfonsetti Cinema-Theatre
Alfonsetti Theatre-Cinema, inaugurated in 1882, one of the oldest cinemas in Spain, now the municipal theatre in the former convent of San Domingos.
Statue of Charity
Contemporary sculpture “Charity”, a reinterpretation of Roman Charity, symbolising solidarity and the philanthropic legacy of the García Naveira brothers.
Former Municipal Slaughterhouse
Former municipal slaughterhouse from the early 20th century, with distinctive architecture and iron and tile decoration.
Manuel Naveira Asylum
Charitable building from 1914, promoted by Manuel Naveira González, eclectic in style and now converted into a hotel.
Casa Limiñón
Casa Limiñón, built in 1902 on Rúa Traviesa, a clear example of modernism and decorative craftsmanship.
Casa da Rega or Villa Flora
Casa da Rega, built in 1922, an outstanding example of Indianos architecture and 20th-century Galician eclecticism.
Bandstand
Neoclassical 18th-century manor house, with an L-shaped floor plan and a large heraldic coat of arms, promoted by Archbishop Sánchez Baamonde.
Soportales del Campo Arcades
Popular street with gallery houses and arcades, now an area of bars and restaurants and a social meeting point in Betanzos.
García Naveira Brothers Statue
Museo das Mariñas
Extensive ethnographic collection of traditional costumes, photography and history.
CIEC (International Centre for Contemporary Printmaking)
Printmaking workshop and museum, housed in the modernist building created by Rafael González Villar for the Núñez family.
Lanzós Magnolia Tree
Historic grove of magnolias planted in 1884, located between the Church of Santiago and the Pazo of Lanzós, highly appreciated for its summer shade.
Pasatiempo Park
Historic garden created by Juan García Naveira in the late 19th century, famous for its grottoes, sculptures and social and cultural symbolism.
Pazo de Piadela
18th-century neoclassical manor house with an L-shaped plan, richly ornamented coat of arms and promoted by an archbishop from Compostela.
Pazo de Illobre
Manorial residence of medieval origin in Pontellas, renovated in the 20th century, with gardens and a tradition linked to the Counts of Taboada.
Pazo of the Counts of Taboada
19th-century neoclassical manor house located in the historic centre, with a large family coat of arms and linked to the County of Taboada.
Pazo de Lanzós
17th-century Baroque manor house with projecting balcony and modified tower, an example of Betanzos’ urban noble architecture.
Pazo de Bendaña
Historic building from the 15th and 16th centuries with pointed arcade and coats of arms, still serving as the headquarters of the Treasury.
Alfolí (Salt Storehouse)
Medieval building used for the storage and weighing of salt, a key product in Betanzos’ port trade.
Os Xudeus Street
Free Public Washhouse
Public washhouse inaugurated in 1902 by the García Naveira brothers, with two levels and capacity for more than twenty washerwomen according to the tides.
Mariñán-style houses of Fonte de Unta, A Cañota and Rúa Quiroga
Traditional agricultural neighbourhood of Fonte de Unta, characterised by arcades and wooden balconies used as urban granaries.
A Acea and Roibeira Mills
Caraña Mills
Fonte da Cangrexeira
Fountain cited in documents from 1633, also known as the San Gregorio Fountain, linked to the port and the Magdalena district.
Picachá Fountain
Neoclassical fountain from 1911, designed by Francisco Javier Martínez Santiso, decorated with semicols, coats of arms and marine figures.
Fountain of the Angels
Historic fountain documented since 1613 and rebuilt in 1834, bearing the coats of arms of the city and Archdeacon Pedro de Ben.
Hórreo da Rúa Nova
This 18th-century urban granary is privately owned and recalls the ancient Orreum mentioned in Betanzos’ foundation charter of 1219.
A Galera Granaries
Group of five Mariñán-type granaries by the Mendo River, recalling the former maize-drying area since the 17th century.
Port of Betanzos
The medieval port of Betanzos has not been preserved, but quays and promenade areas remain.
Old Bridge
Medieval bridge documented since 1219, with five arches and 59 metres in length, now crossed by pilgrims on the English Way.
Old Bridge of As Cascas
Old As Cascas Bridge, cited in the year 1200, rebuilt in the 19th century and preserved as a historic element of the urban area.
Roibeira Bridge
Railway Bridge
Wooden Pedestrian Bridge
New Bridge
Preserved arch of the former medieval New Bridge of Betanzos, a historic symbol that once crossed the Mandeo River and connected the town with its surroundings.
Church of As Angustias
18th-century Baroque church with a Latin cross plan, notable for its imposing stone façade.
Church of Our Lady of the Way
Renaissance sanctuary linked to the English Way, associated with Marian legends and the historic care of pilgrims.
Church of Santa María do Azogue
14th–15th century Gothic church with Flemish altarpieces, mural paintings and tombs of medieval Betanzos society.
Church of Santiago
15th-century church transitioning from Romanesque to Gothic, linked to Fernán Pérez de Andrade and the Way of Saint James.
Parish Church of San Esteban de Piadela
16th-century church with a single nave, of undefined style, featuring interesting volumes and a distinctive bell tower integrated into the façade.
Parish Church of San Martín de Bravío
12th-century Romanesque church with a simple structure, triumphal arch and a dominant double bell gable.
Parish Church of San Martín de Tiobre
12th-century Romanesque church with a single nave and rich sculptural decoration on the portal and bell gable.
Parish Church of Santa María de Pontellas
13th-century Romanesque church with a single nave, pointed triumphal arch and simple bell gable, a sober example of rural Galician Romanesque.
Parish Church of Santiago de Requián
Baroque church with a single nave, gallery and prominent double bell gable, representative of popular religious architecture in the region.
Church and Convent of San Francisco
14th-century Gothic temple declared a BIC, with extraordinary tombs of the Andrade family and rich sculptural decoration.
Church and Convent of Santo Domingo
Dominican church and convent begun in the 16th century, with a historic cloister and the tower from which the traditional San Roque balloon is launched.