One century later than Sobrán, another exemple of this tipical Galician construction was built in Vilaxoan: the pazo of Pardiñas, also known as Pardiñas de Villadefran-cos’ Tower-Home. It was first constructed in the 16th century and then remodeled in the 18th century. The pazo of Pardiñas is the counterpoint to the other two pazos found in Vilaxoan: Sobrán and O Rial.
This construction aimed to be a dweling rather than an agricultural production centre, for this reason lacks an hórreo – raised granary- as in O Rial, or a big winery, as in Sobrán.
And for the same reason Pardiñas displays a greater ostentation of power, which highlights the difference with respect to the constructions around it; its interior garden is also worthy of mention. The gargoyles on the cornice, the solid modillions underneath the spacious cast iron railed balconies through which the owners of the house leaned out and specially, its square tower attached to the rectangular central body give prominence to this building compared to the rest of the houses found in this village which were originally one-floor houses where fishermen used to live.
It was built in the 16th century by Juan Daval and María Pérez de Leiro, founders of the convent of Cambados. Then, the pazo passed to the Pardiñas Villardefrancos family who owned lands in the Bergantiños area (A Coruña), and therefore very far away from Vilagarcían interests. Even so, it is important to mention one of their descendants, José Rafael Pardiñas, an army colonel who led the local militia against the French invasion in 1808 even though he was retired but living in the Vilaxoan pazo.
Address: Rñua Pardiñas, 8– Vilaxoán. 36611 – Vilagarcía de Arousa
Visits: Private property. Only outside visits allowed
