Castro of A Lanzada

Castro de A Lanzada is a multi-period archaeological site in the parish of Noalla, within the municipality of Sanxenxo, in the province of Pontevedra, Galicia. It sits right beside the well-known A Lanzada beach, on a narrow strip of land connecting the Barbanza peninsula to the rest of the Rías Baixas coastline.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The site occupies the tip of a sandy headland, a few kilometers from central Sanxenxo, along the road toward O Grove. Driving from Pontevedra takes about half an hour, and in summer local buses run along the coast road nearby. Because the ruins sit right next to the beach, many visitors combine a walk through the site with time on the sand.

Who built the castro, and when?

People of the Castro culture — the Iron Age communities typical of northwestern Iberia — settled here as early as the 7th century BC, establishing a fortified settlement. The site didn't fade away under Roman rule or later under the Suebi kingdom; excavations carried out in 2010 and 2016 showed that A Lanzada continued to function as a significant trading hub during those periods, challenging the older assumption that Castro culture communities were closed off from wider exchange networks.

Who excavated the site?

The earliest written reference to the complex dates back to the 18th century, tied to the work of the friar Martín Sarmiento. Systematic excavation, however, only began in the mid-20th century, led by Filgueira Valverde on behalf of the Museum of Pontevedra. Fariña Busto and García Alén picked up the work in the 1970s, and Peña Santos coordinated two further excavation campaigns the following decade. These efforts uncovered not just the castro itself but a Roman and Suebi-era necropolis, along with the remains of a later medieval fortification and chapel.

What did archaeologists find?

Two burial grounds at the site have yielded roughly a hundred skeletons, preserved unusually well thanks to the sandy soil. That combination of quantity and preservation has made the A Lanzada necropolis one of the most valuable sources for understanding the physical anthropology of Galicia's ancient population. Other finds include bone and bronze pins, pottery typical of Castro-culture workshops, axes, and coins — evidence of the site's use across several centuries.

What can you see today?

Visitors can walk among the remains of the castro's defensive walls and traces of its residential structures, alongside elements of the later medieval fortification. Right next to the ruins, on a rocky point above the beach, stands a small chapel belonging to the same historical complex. The surrounding landscape of dunes and cliffs, typical of this stretch of the Rías Baixas coast, makes the visit as rewarding scenically as it is historically.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and early autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for exploring the ruins, before or after the summer crowds arrive at A Lanzada beach. A summer visit works well too if you want to pair the site with a day at the beach, though expect more visitors around.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is Castro de A Lanzada? It's a multi-period archaeological site combining a 7th-century BC Castro-culture settlement, a Roman and Suebi-era necropolis, and the remains of a medieval fortification with a chapel.

Who excavated the site? Filgueira Valverde led the first systematic excavations in the mid-20th century for the Museum of Pontevedra; Fariña Busto, García Alén, and later Peña Santos continued the work over the following decades.

What was found in the necropolis? Around a hundred well-preserved skeletons, along with everyday objects such as pins, pottery, axes, and coins, making it an important source on Galicia's early inhabitants.

Can you visit the castro and A Lanzada beach together? Yes — the site sits directly next to the beach, so a walk through the ruins pairs easily with time on the sand.