Chronology
- 16th century
In the 16th century, the properties that would become the Pazo de Santa Cruz were acquired, the chapel was built, the buildings were arranged and the skeleton of what is today the possession was drawn.
In the second half of the 16th century, the enclosure was walled up and the property was divided internally into three main areas: mountainous land, land for crops and a reserved land next to the house, where the orchard and gardens were formed. Avenues and walkways were formed to separate the different cultivation plots and facilitate access to them. The entire monumental complex has a scale of layout that suggests Renaissance influences.
The cultivation of olive trees was used to produce oil, and for this reason the Farm was equipped with a mill with a granite wheel and a beam press - in the Roman way - which was preserved until not many years ago. Oil production lasted until the 20th century.
Another main crop was vineyards. With these the appreciated Ulla wine was made - white and red. For this, the winery had four presses, beam presses and granite counterweights. The wine was kept in the cellar where the oak and chestnut barrels were placed. The cultivation of the vine already existing in the original complex was incorporated into the new layout of the plots, adding some trellises with important carved granite columns, around the winery and the walls.
- 19th century
In the 19th century, the collection of plants, especially camellias, was considerably increased. It currently has a nursery, Ortigueira S.A., specialized in the sale of plants to wholesalers, landscapers, garden designers and landscapers.
