Torre de Goiáns

Torre de Goiáns is a stone tower belonging to a pazo, a Galician manor house, standing on the bank of the Coroño river in Escarís, in the municipality of Boiro, province of A Coruña.

What is this place?

The Torre-Pazo de Goiáns is a coastal manor house typical of the Barbanza area, combining a defensive tower with an L-shaped palatial building. For centuries the estate symbolized the power of the noble families who controlled much of the surrounding land between the 15th and 19th centuries. Today the complex is one of the notable heritage sites in Boiro and the wider Barbanza region.

What does the tower look like?

The square tower is topped with a balustraded lookout and its facade is decorated with pointed-arch windows and the coats of arms of several noble families tied to the Barbanza area. Attached to the main pazo building are a chapel, a hórreo (a traditional Galician granary), a dovecote, a caretaker's house, stables, a wine press, plus a dock and fishing grounds — together forming a complete rural manor complex.

Where does the tower come from?

The building standing today was raised in the mid-16th century by the Fandiño Gayoso family, likely on the site of an earlier defensive tower. That older structure was damaged during the Irmandiña revolts of the 15th century, a peasant uprising that destroyed many noble strongholds across Galicia. The repair of the damaged section is attributed to the 17th century and linked to the architect Domingo de Andrade.

Who owned the pazo?

Over the centuries the estate passed through the hands of several noble families, including Soutomaior, Caamaño, Mariño, Varela, Ulloa, Mendoza, Castro and Parga. In more recent times it belonged to the Barrié de la Maza family, who hosted King Alfonso XIII there.

What is happening at the pazo today?

The Boiro municipal government acquired the property in 2010. After a rehabilitation of the main building and the tower costing over a million euros, the complex opened to visitors in May 2022. It is now made accessible to the public on select occasions, including the Day of Galician Letters (Día das Letras Galegas). Local press has also reported ongoing restoration work aimed at giving the pazo a renewed role as a reference point for the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Torre de Goiáns located? The tower stands in Escarís, in the municipality of Boiro, province of A Coruña, on the bank of the Coroño river.

When was the tower built? The current building dates to the mid-16th century, though it likely replaced an earlier defensive tower destroyed during the Irmandiña revolts of the 15th century.

Can visitors tour Torre de Goiáns? Yes. Following rehabilitation completed in 2022, the site is opened to visitors on special occasions organized by the Boiro municipal government.

Who owned the estate? Over the centuries the property changed hands among Barbanza's noble families — Soutomaior, Caamaño, Mariño, Varela, Ulloa, Mendoza, Castro and Parga — before later passing to the Barrié de la Maza family.