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Pazo de Santa Cruz de Rivadulla
The Santa Cruz de Rivadulla garden is, for many, the most fascinating botanical space in Galicia for its extraordinary diversity and richness in ornamental flora, as well as for its botanical and landscape value, more than half a million plants of 400 different species.
Pazo de Santa Cruz de Rivadulla
Content
Pazo de Santa Cruz de Rivadulla
General information
Some highlights about Pazo de Santa Cruz de Rivadulla, in Vedra, A Coruña, Galicia (Spain)
Awards
Garden of International Excellence awarded by the International Camellia Society
Asset of Cultural Interest
Type of historic garden
Private residences
Size
300.000 m2
Location
Timetables
Winter:
- Monday to Saturday:
10:00 am - 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Sundays and holidays:
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Summer:
- Monday to Saturday:
10:00 - 13:00 and from 16:00 - 20:00 - Sundays and holidays:
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Tickets
- Free entry: Monday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
- General admission: € 5
- Group ticket (more than 20 pax): € 3.5 per person (minimum € 70)
- Guided visits, upon request: Up to 25 pax: € 50, More than 25 pax. € 2 / pax. The price of the guided tour is additional to the corresponding entrance fee.
- Professional photographic report: € 125
Contact information
Web: pazoderivadulla.com
Email: info@ortigueiraplant.com
Téléphone: 0034 981 512 011
Access
By car, by public transport (bus weekdays) from Santiago de Compostela
Pazo de Santa Cruz de Rivadulla
Natural environment
The pazo de Santa Cruz de Rivadulla, also known as Pazo de Ortigueira or “Granja de Ortigueira”, is located under the protection of the Pico Sacro, on the Coruña bank of the river Ulla, in the municipality of Vedra, which is part of the region natural of Ulla, located between the provinces of A Coruña and Pontevedra. Very close to the Rías Baixas and 20 kilometers from the capital of Galicia: Santiago de Compostela.
Rías Baixas Designation of Origin
An eminently rural area where small land dedicated to the cultivation of agricultural products predominate along with plots for raising livestock, especially cattle. In this natural landscape, in which you breathe peace and tranquillity, the cultivation of the vine is also a protagonist, since 2000 it has been part of the Rías Baixas Designation of Origin, being one of the five sub-areas of production in Galicia.
Vía de la Plata
Through these lands passes the Vía de la Plata, one of the roads of Santiago, which led the pilgrims from the south of the Iberian Peninsula to the tomb of the Apostle Santiago, which makes it an area rich in legends and traditions.
The mild climate and a green landscape dotted with churches, monasteries, chapels, pazos or crosses invite us to know the region, classified as wine and camellias.
Pazo de Santa Cruz de Rivadulla
Historical background
Its history dates back to the 16th century, when the canon of the Cathedral of Santiago, Juan Ibáñez de Mondragón, acquired the properties that would become the Pazo de Santa Cruz, known at the time as the Tower and the Casar de Ortigueira, and later his nephew the cardinal, -dignity of the cathedral of Santiago- Juan de Mondragón, extended the property. The church was built, the buildings were arranged and the skeleton of what is now the possession with olive and vine plantations was drawn. The fountains, the ponds, the waterfall, the house, the church, the horreo (granary) and the rest of the buildings are some of its attractions.
It was in the seventeenth century when Andrés Ibáñez de Modragón commissioned some works to be carried out on the pre-existing buildings. He hired the services of Domingo de Andrade for the design. During this period the monumental fountain designed by the architect Diego de Romay was also built.
In the 19th century the Corralón, the greenhouse was built and, above all, the collection of plants increased considerably. Subsequently, successive improvements and reforms have been produced that have given the pazo its current structure and appearance.
Pazo de Santa Cruz de Rivadulla
Description
The Santa Cruz de Rivadulla garden is, for many, the most fascinating botanical space in Galicia for its extraordinary diversity and richness in ornamental flora, as well as for its botanical and landscape value, more than half a million plants of 400 different species.
In the second half of the 16th century the enclosure was walled up and the property was divided internally. 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, forming a single, rational and orthogonal whole, which suggests Renaissance influences.
The complex, made up of more than five hundred olive trees that flank the avenues and that we see today, is the result of an original idea that was undertaken for the first time in Galicia.
Camellias
In the 19th century, Iván Armada and Fernández de Córdoba (1845-1899), known as “El Tío Iván”, considerably increased the collection of plants, especially camellias. The first citations about his plantations date back to the period between 1875-1899 and are reflected in his notebooks.
In these, "Uncle Ivan" relates that he planted several specimens of camellia next to others that were already growing in the garden. At that time, they were already 7 meters high. Therefore, it can be concluded that these "old camellias" were planted years ago, probably from 1780 to 1820. Others were planted before 1850, and those planted by "Uncle Ivan" from 1875 onwards.
Monumental trees
From a botanical point of view, the most important thing about the property is the set of monumental trees that it brings together, among which we can highlight: the walks of camellias (Camellia), olive trees (Olea europaea), boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), gigantic magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora), Australian fern (Dicksonia antarctica), Cryptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica), Virginia tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera), ombu (Phytolacca dioica), Pyramidal oak (Quercus robur var. Fastigiata), Washingtonia palms (Washingtonia robusta), as well as an orange tree reminiscent of old farm citrus groves.
Fountain of Jovellanos
One of the places most steeped in history is the Fountain of Jovellanos, in memory of the writer, jurist and enlightened politician, who would end here and sign the "Appendices and notes to the Memory in defense of the Central Board" in 1811. The Main Race leads us home and along the way we leave boxwoods, camellia walks or large magnolia trees.
The tour of the garden will take us through:
Pazo de Santa Cruz de Rivadulla
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.