CASTILLO DE SOUTOMAIOR
In Soutomaior (Pontevedra), immersed in the valley of the river Verdugo, origin of the estuary of Vigo, you will find this medieval castle in perfect condition. The primitive construction, bound to Paio Méndez Sorrede, dates back to the 12th century, when the arabs still lived in the Iberian Peninsula. When the Guerras Irmandiñas took place, in the fifteenth century, with Paio Gómez de Soutomaior as the owner, the second tower was built and it was, with his son, known as Pedro Madruga, when the castle got to his most powerful heights.

It went trought a period of decadence, but since 1870, the Marquis of De la Vega de Armijo, converted it in a neogothic palace, building the lady's balcony, the chapel, and creating the gardens and the botanical park that surrounds the castle. Years later, with the Marchionese of Ayerbe, a sanatorium and other premises were built.

In 1982, it became property of the Diputación Provincial de Pontevedra and was restored as a medieval castle dedicated to cultural aims.

A walk in the garden…

With an area of 25 hectares, it is considered the most important botanical garden in Galicia, gathering more than a hundred varieties of camelias, millenial chesnuts and trees from the five continents. This hill has a climate in which palms and orange trees can live together in harmony among eucalyptus and giant magnolias.

The castle is a defiant mass which you approach through a lifting bridge that leads to the square of arms, with a second wall leaned on the large tower of tribute. Behind the patio, welcoming us is the pointed arch doorway with its coat of arms, many times altered for the consecutive changes of hands.

The Marquis de la Vega de Armijo were the ones who, since 1870, made the effort to embellish the surroundings of the castle, opening paths, cleaning forests and tracing gardens, all with great respect and wisdom.