DESCRIPTION
OF THE AREA OF HISTORIC AND ARTISTIC INTEREST
As
the visitor strolls around the streets of Corcubión he will
discover the details of the noble past of many families from Corcubión
as well as the charms of the folk architecture so typical of
Galician fishing towns with their traditional verandas and balconies.
In
the main Square there are several buildings particularly worthy
of interest such as the so-called Casa Miñones which dates
back to 1899. This building brings together the features of typical
Galician architecture with elements of the Modernist style which
was popular at that time. Another example in the Square is the beautiful
Casa do Xulgado (Law Courts). In the far north we find three country
manor houses which were once home to the local nobility (the Figueroa
e Porrúa Family, the Pose Bermúdez e Varela Family
and the Dios e Pose Family, etc.) as we can see from the eighteenth
century coat of arms. Nearby we find the Chapel of Our Lady of Pilar
(built 1931) which now serves as the Public Assembly Rooms.
Behind
the Square, in what is known as the Horta de Pol there stands the
building which was once the seat of the José Carrera Foundation.
The
street named after Antonio Porrúa is a fine everyday example
of the architectural savoir-faire of the popular style which reigned
in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. It was no coincidence
that up until 1860 this street, which used to be known as the Royal
Street, was the only way into the town, starting on the boundary
with the neighbouring town of Cee at the Valdomar Stone-cross erected
under the orders of Domingo Valdomar in 1700. In the Rúa
de Perigos we can admire a traditional façade with its arched
entrance and a beautifully crafted balcony which used to house the
Pósito Marítimo (Seafarers' Centre). Following on
along this street we arrive at the Cabo da Vila with San Anthony's
Chapel (built 1700). A little further up the visitor can marvel
at an excellent view over the whole town.
In
Castelao Square, walking towards to the Church we find the Manor
belonging to the Counts of Altamira the once lords of the Countship
which is today the modern Borough. The earliest part was built in
the late 15th Century and includes the dungeon and the courtroom
of the noble courthouse which later underwent a series of changes.
Near the Church there used to stand a small hostel founded by the
Counts in order to take in the pilgrims on the Pilgrim's Route on
their way to Fisterra ('Land's End').
Saint
Mark's Parish Church is of Romanesque origin and design. The main
body of the church was built in the mid-13th Century or later whereas
the Neogothic façade and belfry were recently rebuilt after
they were destroyed during a storm in 1885. The remains of the original
pointed doorway can be seen after going through the new entrance.
On
the outside of the Church the visitor can admire a series of cornice-pieces
portraying human figures, demons and animals
Once
inside the building itself we can see the magnificent sculpture
representing Saint Mark the Evangelist in a seated position and
dressed like a Venetian Doge. The back of the sculpture is decorated
with the heraldic emblems belonging to the Count and Countess of
Altamira, Rodrigo de Moscoso and Xoana de Castro.
As
we leave the Square heading towards Fisterre, the old Borough jail
(built 1858) soon comes into sight, standing at the entrance to
the port. Despite the fact that this building has undergone a series
of reparations, it still maintains its original appearance and structure,
including a small chapel.
The
port also serves as an excellent reminder of Corcubión's
past history. The port, which was rebuilt and enlarged after it
was destroyed during the War of Independence, was of key strategic
importance owing to the course of the ria (estuary).
As
we follow this road, turning off on next to the graveyard, we can
see Quenxe Beach stretching out on the opposite side of the road,
with the remains of the old salting factory and the General Coal
Company. Following the track to the right leading towards Oliveira
we come to the Monte do Castro (lit. Fort Hill) in Quenxe with its
oval structure designed to make best use of the available sunlight.
Only a part of the platform located in the acropolis still remains
today where the dwellings and the ramparts made out of blocks of
granite are hidden underground. Several fragments of castro period
and romanised pottery have been found on the surface at this site,
which means that it can be dated back to the centuries around the
turn the Era.
We
can continue to admire the marvellous views as we make our way back
along the road leading to the Castelo do Cardeal (lit. The Cardinal's
Castle), located in the old Punta do Cantelo. This small battery
dates back to 1741 and has 12 rooms with a capacity for 96 men.
Its prime aim was to defend the ria along with the neighbouring
Castelo do Príncipe (Prince's Castle) located on the opposite
side of the ria. A little further away stands Cabo de Cee built
in 1860.
Carrying
on around the headland, we arrive at the Parish of Redondela with
the church of the same name dating back to the late 12th Century,
although all that remains of its original Romanesque structure are
the rectangular apse, a typical window in the façade, the
semicircular arch resting on two half-columns on the high altar
and several interesting cornice-pieces with figurative floral designs.
Inside the Church we find the sculpture of Saint Peter in the Chair
(C. 15) which used to stand over the high altar. All of this is
rounded off with a stone-cross erected in 1689 and in style which
was very popular throughout the whole area.
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For
more information, please contact :
CONCELLO
DE CORCUBION (Corcubión Town hall)
Avda.
da Viña, 1
Tel:
+34 981 74 54 00
Fax:
+34 981 74 71 00
15130
A CORUÑA
concorcubion@finisterrae.com
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