Pazo de Pías

Pazo de Pías is a 17th-century Galician pazo (a traditional manor house) in the parish of San Pedro de la Ramallosa, in the municipality of Nigrán, Pontevedra province. Also known as Casa de Arias, it now operates as an albergue, a hostel for pilgrims walking the coastal Portuguese Way (Camino Portugués por la Costa) to Santiago de Compostela.

Who built Pazo de Pías, and when?

The manor was built in the 17th century by Félix Corea, a notary from Baiona who was also a member of the Spanish Inquisition. It was raised as a representative noble residence, typical of Galician pazo architecture, with stone walls, an inner courtyard, and outbuildings.

Why does the pazo look so fortified?

In 1665, during the Portuguese invasion of the Miñor valley, the pazo was sacked and burned. That episode left its mark on the building: Pazo de Pías has taller, heavier walls than other pazos in the region, giving it a more defensive character than a typical noble residence of its time.

How large is the estate and the main building?

The property covers roughly 13,000 square meters of land. The main house itself has an L-shaped floor plan and around 3,500 square meters of built area. The estate also preserves historical outbuildings, a traditional granary (hórreo), and an extensive garden.

What is Pazo de Pías used for today?

The property now belongs to the Religious Institute of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and functions as an albergue-hospedería, a hostel for pilgrims on the coastal branch of the Portuguese Way of St. James. It offers 62 beds across 31 double rooms, all with low beds rather than bunks. Set within 17th-century walls alongside historical outbuildings and a garden, the site combines lodging with the atmosphere of a heritage manor.

Where exactly is it located?

Pazo de Pías stands on Camiño da Cabreira 21, in A Ramallosa, part of the municipality of Nigrán in Pontevedra province, Galicia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Pazo de Pías originally? It was a 17th-century Galician pazo, a noble manor house built by notary and Inquisition member Félix Corea, also known as Casa de Arias.

Why are its walls taller than those of comparable pazos? Because the building was sacked and burned by Portuguese troops in 1665 during their invasion of the Miñor valley, after which it was rebuilt with taller, more fortress-like walls.

Who owns Pazo de Pías today, and what is it used for? It belongs to the Religious Institute of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and serves as a pilgrim albergue on the coastal Portuguese Way to Santiago de Compostela, with 62 beds in 31 double rooms.

Where precisely is Pazo de Pías located? In A Ramallosa, within the parish of San Pedro de la Ramallosa, in the municipality of Nigrán (Pontevedra province, Galicia), at Camiño da Cabreira 21.