A coat of arms on the gate to the courtyard of Casa de Justino Nóvoa offers a tangible starting point for exploring Eiras’s architectural history. The estate is also known as Pazo de Eiras and is one of two pazos in the area. The heraldic stonework is located on the gate to the courtyard; the coat of arms dates from the 17th century and was moved here from Toscaña in the early 20th century. Two dates come together in this architectural feature: the creation of the coat of arms and its later relocation to Eiras. This makes it possible to distinguish the coat of arms’s origins from its later arrival in Eiras.
Pazo de Eiras: coat of arms and other architectural features
The house also has a balcony and pyramidal pinnacles. Together with the coat of arms, these features offer various ways to appreciate the estate’s architecture: a piece of heraldic stonework with a history of its own, and two other distinctive architectural features. For travellers interested in architectural heritage when choosing a destination, the pazo is a clear focal point in Eiras.
The Igrexa de Santa Ouxea de Eiras is also one of the places worth visiting in San Amaro. As a church, it offers a different architectural point of interest from the pazo; their shared connection to Eiras is clear from their names alone. Those whose choice of destination is guided more by historic buildings than by archaeological sites will find a distinct focus in these two places.
Archaeological sites in Eiras and the surrounding area
O Castro de Eiras is an archaeological site in the parish of Eiras (Santa Ouxea), in San Amaro. The Parque ArqueolĂłgico da Cultura Castrexa opened nearby in 2014. It is one of four centres in the Galician archaeological heritage network. The site and the park are distinct points of interest: O Castro de Eiras is located in the parish, while the Parque is an archaeological centre in the surrounding area. Those interested in Castrexa culture can take this distinction into account when choosing what to focus on.
The Castro de San Cibrao de Lás is also located near Eiras. It stands on a hill 472 metres high between the municipalities of San Amaro and PunxĂn, and is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological castro sites in Galicia. The site includes modern museum facilities. Compared with O Castro de Eiras, the geographical setting here is different: San Cibrao de Lás is defined by its hill between two municipalities, while O Castro de Eiras is defined by its location in the parish of Eiras (Santa Ouxea).
When choosing a place to stay, it helps to keep these different geographical settings in mind. The pazo and O Castro de Eiras are associated with the area or parish; the Parque Arqueológico da Cultura Castrexa and the Castro de San Cibrao de Lás are nearby. Consider whether Eiras itself or the archaeological attractions in the surrounding area are more important to you.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Amoeiro, Xinzo De Limia, Esgos, Cortegada, Os Blancos, PazĂł, PepĂn, Barbadás
For the overview of the wider area: Ourense.
