Casa da Alfóndega

Casa da Alfóndega is a 16th-century townhouse in the historic centre of Redondela, a small town in Galicia's Pontevedra province. The building stands right next to Casa da Torre, today a pilgrim hostel on the Camino de Santiago, on Isidoro Queimaliños street. Its name comes from "alfóndega," a term with Arabic roots referring to a public granary and grain-trading building. Behind the house once stood the Praza da Alfóndega, a market square where farmers sold grain and other produce and which served as one of the town's liveliest gathering spots.

What is the history behind this house?

The house was built in the 16th century and stood out among the town's other buildings for its richly decorated façade. Above the entrance sits a doorway topped with a semi-circular arch, and above that, two family coats of arms — one combining the arms of the Prego de Montaos and Pereira de Castro families, the other those of Troncoso de Lira and Araújo. Pairing two coats of arms on a single façade typically signalled a marriage or property link between noble families, a common practice when building a prominent town house in Galicia at the time.

What was the building originally used for?

The square that gave the house its name was a marketplace for grain and other agricultural goods. An "alhóndiga" (alfóndega in Galician) was a building type found across Spain: a public granary and trading post for staple goods, usually overseen by local authorities. In Redondela, the market square by Casa da Alfóndega played an important social role — farmers from the surrounding villages came to sell grain here, making it one of the town's central meeting places.

Can visitors see the building today?

Yes. Casa da Alfóndega has survived to the present day and still stands on its original site. The building now houses a restaurant, so visitors can admire the historic façade from the outside and step inside for a meal. It forms part of Redondela's historic centre and is worth seeing together with the neighbouring Casa da Torre.

How do you get to Casa da Alfóndega?

The house sits right in Redondela's town centre, on Isidoro Queimaliños street, within walking distance of the old town's main sights. Redondela is located in Pontevedra province, Galicia, and is well connected to nearby Vigo and other towns in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What century does Casa da Alfóndega date from? The building dates from the 16th century.

What does the name "Alfóndega" mean? It refers to a former public granary and grain market — a word with Arabic roots used across Spain for this type of trading building.

Whose coats of arms appear on the façade? The façade displays two coats of arms: one combining the Prego de Montaos and Pereira de Castro families, the other the Troncoso de Lira and Araújo families.

What is in the building today? Casa da Alfóndega now houses a restaurant, while the historic façade remains visible as part of Redondela's old town centre.