Torreón dos Andrade


The stout, 18m-high Andrade Tower was erected in the late 14th century, probably by Fernán Pérez de Andrade 'O Boo' (The Good), who fought on the winning side in wars among Castilian royalty and as a reward was made lord of a sizeable chunk of northern Galicia by King Enrique II. The tower contains a worthwhile interpretation centre on the Andrade family, who went on to dominate this area for two centuries, and also houses the local tourist office.

'O Boo' was known for building roads, bridges, churches, monasteries and hospitals, as well as defensive towers such as this one, which was part of his palace complex (the main palace building, demolished in 1935, stood on the site of the nearby market). He constructed Pontedeume's first stone bridge over the Eume and three Gothic churches in Betanzos, one of which contains his intriguingly carved tomb.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Mosteiro de Caaveiro

5.28 MILES

From the Parque Natural Fragas do Eume's visitors centre, a paved road leads 7.5km along the thickly forested valley to a stone footbridge, where a 500m…

2. Mosteiro de Monfero

8.24 MILES

Founded in 1134, this grand old monastery, standing in splendid isolation, was abandoned in the 19th century but has been partly restored. It has three…

3. Igrexa de San Francisco

8.88 MILES

This 14th-century Gothic church contains many carved-stone sepulchres of Galician nobility. Don't miss the sepulchre of Fernán Pérez de Andrade 'O Boo' …

4. Old Town

8.94 MILES

Take Rúa Castro up from the central Praza Irmáns García Naveira to the handsome Praza da Constitución, flanked by a couple of appealing cafes along with…

5. Praza dos Irmáns García Naveira

9.07 MILES

The sprawling main square is named after two Betanzos brothers whose statue stands in its centre. Juan and Jesús García Naveira made a fortune in…

6. Museo das Mariñas

9.11 MILES

Just around the corner from the main square, this museum peers into traditional Galician life with exhibits ranging from the mundane (old coffee mugs) to…

7. Museo Arqueológico e Histórico

11.25 MILES

The 16th-century Castillo de San Antón, the fort set on its own little promontory guarding the entrance to the port, now houses the Museo Arqueológico e…

8. Museo Militar

11.31 MILES

The Military Museum showcases an assembly of arms, uniforms, banners and other military gear from the 18th to 20th centuries.