Betanzos
About this heritage
A Ponte Vella is almost certainly the oldest bridge in Betanzos. It is already mentioned in the year 1200 and is currently the natural exit for pilgrims traveling the English Way to Santiago de Compostela. It is a bridge built of ashlar masonry with a single arch and parapets. It was blown up in 1809 by the English on their way to A Coruña, and its repair was carried out with oak beams and planks. Later, in 1839, it was rebuilt in stone, which is the appearance we can see today except for the coat of arms with the town's arms that were added in 1846. The Convent of the Augustinian Recollects is located in the historic center of Betanzos. It was built between the 17th and 18th centuries during the reign of Charles V, which is why the convent displays his coat of arms alongside that of Betanzos. The entire complex is built of stone. The cloister dates back to the 16th century. The convent of the Augustinian Recollects belongs to the religious order of the Augustinians. Cloistered nuns live there. The convent is situated right in the urban center of the city.
To learn more
A Ponte Vella is 59 meters long and 4 meters wide, connecting the two banks of the Mandeo River. It preserves two western towers with recesses featuring seats. It has a single arch, with parapets, all made of ashlar masonry. Under the name "Puente Viejo de As Cascas," it is already mentioned in the year 1200. In 1809, it was blown up by the English on their way to A Coruña, so its arch was replaced with oak beams and planks. In 1839, a stone reconstruction was carried out, giving it its current appearance. In 1846, a coat of arms with the town's arms was added. The convent of the Augustinian Recollects was formerly the Hospital San Bartolomé, the first pilgrims' hospital in the region. Its founder was Fernán Pérez Andrade, and it was located just after crossing Ponte Vella. Later, the damaged appearance was restored, and it began to be called the Hospital de la Anunciata. The convent of the Augustinian Recollects, as it is properly known, was built in the 17th and 18th centuries, but we can still see the two coats of arms on the facade of the old Hospital La Anunciata: the first belongs to Charles V, and the second corresponds to the city of Betanzos. The construction is made of stone, and the religious architecture highlights the cloister, which was built in the 16th century. Inside, two altarpieces belonging to the Compostela School are treasured.
To know it better
The Galician municipality of Betanzos, also known as "Betanzos de los Caballeros," in A Coruña, is located in the Rías Altas, and its urban center is situated on a hill very close to the Mandeo and Mendo rivers. Betanzos was one of the seven provinces that formed the ancient Kingdom of Galicia. When civilization settled, Betanzos was characterized by its wall, and during the Middle Ages, it had a lot of commercial activity, mainly fishing. In its historic center, we can find a bridge dating back to 1219. It is a single-arch ashlar masonry structure with parapets that was demolished several times, at least twice, due to the rise of the Mandeo River and, in 1809, due to an explosion caused by the English. Later, in 1839, the bridge was renewed and rebuilt in stone and currently retains the same construction. Nearby, the gate or arch of Ponte Vella is also well known. It was built in the 15th century and was where the control of the weights of goods to be sold in the municipality of Betanzos was carried out. In the old area, we also find the Convent of the Augustinian Recollects, built in the 17th-18th centuries. On the site, three buildings were constructed where stone hospitals were created, and the walls were carved with coats of arms of King Charles V. The nuns of the Augustinian Recollects convent took in orphaned children from Betanzos since one of the buildings was transformed into an orphanage.
Gallery
Location
- Town
- Betanzos
- Municipality
- Betanzos
- Province
- A Coruña
- Country
- Spain
The asset
- Type
- Bridge
- Eco-destination
- Rías de Ares y Betanzos
- Environment
- Urban
- Relevance
- Regional
How to get there
- Access
- By sea By land
- Distance
- 0,800 km
The visit
- Visitable
- Yes
- Interpretation
- No
- Accessible
- No
- Parking
- No
Coordinates
- Latitud
- 43.2809122
- Longitud
- -8.20932600