Pazo da Pena do Ouro

Pazo da Pena do Ouro is a historic Galician manor house standing in the parish of Argalo, within the municipality of Noia, in the province of A Coruña. Regarded as one of the oldest pazos in Galicia, the estate carries a stone inscription dated 1279, even though the building visitors see today took shape mainly in the 16th century.

How old is the building?

Documentary traces point to some form of construction on the site as early as the 13th century, backed by that 1279 inscription. The core structure standing today, however, was raised in the 1500s. Over the following centuries the pazo kept growing: builders added to it again in the 17th, 19th and 20th centuries, layering different architectural periods onto the original core.

What does the east façade look like?

The oldest surviving front, facing east, dates from the 16th century. Three broad arches open along the ground floor, while a row of small rectangular windows lines the upper level. Several carved coats of arms sit on this façade, marking the noble lineage of the families who owned the house.

What changed in the early 20th century?

A new north façade was added in 1918, and the whole property underwent a substantial remodel during the 1920s. That renovation drew on the baroque style associated with Santiago de Compostela, giving parts of the pazo a distinctly Compostelan character.

Where did the cloister come from?

One of the estate's most distinctive features is a Romanesque cloister that was not originally built here. In 1922 the archbishopric of Santiago de Compostela sold the remains of the Monastery of San Xusto de Toxosoutos to the Viscount of Santo Alberto, José Varela de Limia. Among the pieces he acquired were carved coats of arms and the cloister itself, both incorporated into the pazo he was then rebuilding in Argalo.

Who owns the pazo today?

Since 1978, Pazo da Pena do Ouro has belonged to the Counts of Torrecedeira, Felipe Bárcena Varela de Limia and Rosa de Labra Morán, who count as the fifteenth generation of owners. The house remains private property, so anyone planning a visit should expect limited access to the interior.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Pazo da Pena do Ouro located? In the parish of Argalo, municipality of Noia, province of A Coruña, in Galicia, northwestern Spain.

What exactly is a "pazo"? It is the traditional Galician manor house — a stone residence, often walled, sometimes with its own chapel, dovecote and garden, historically home to the local nobility.

Can visitors go inside? The building is privately owned by the Torrecedeira family, so it's worth checking current access arrangements locally, for example through Noia's tourist information office, before planning a visit.

What is the oldest part of the property? A stone inscription dated 1279 suggests a building already stood here in the 13th century; the 16th-century east façade, with its arcaded ground floor, is the oldest surviving architectural element.

Where does the cloister inside the pazo come from? It was moved here in 1922 from the Monastery of San Xusto de Toxosoutos, whose remains the property's owner at the time bought from the archbishopric of Santiago de Compostela.