Thursday Doors: La Coruña, Spain

The ship is still docked in La Coruña! What are we going to see today? How about the famous plaza and historic district for starters? Located within the Centro Historico district of La Coruña, Plaza de Maria Pita is a large, elegant square enclosed with graceful arched arcades. The Town Hall with its imposing three domes of red bricks, stands at one end, completely dominating the area. It is a wonderful place to watch the world go by as the plaza is surrounded by cafes and restaurants.

So who is Maria Mayor Fernández de Cámara y Pita, known as Maria Pita?

On the 4th of May 1589, English forces, already in control of the lower city, breached the walls of the old city. Maria Pita was assisting her soldier husband, when he was killed by a wound from a crossbow that struck him in the head. An English soldier with a banner, who was making his way to the highest part of the wall, was killed by Pita. She appeared on the heights of the wall herself, shouting: Quen teña honra, que me siga, “Whoever has honor, follow me!” rallying the Spanish soldiers and other women to drive back the English . The English later abandoned the siege and withdrew to their ships. Inés de Ben, another woman, who took up arms, received treatment for two shots received in the siege. Pita’s heroic deeds were honored and rewarded by Phillip II, who granted her the pension of a military officer, which she received following the death of her husband. Maria Pita married four times and had four children.

Notice the galleria windows……. they are placed on the sunny side of the buildings to let the light in and assist in heating the buildings……it is called the greenhouse affect.

Lots of galleria windows on the plaza……..

And now a stroll through the old town…………..narrow, cobblestone streets.

Lots of color here and pretty window boxes too!

The buildings are in many shapes with different textured walls……….

Old and new side by side………

With a selection of doors for us!

And what have we here? We are on the Way again…………..

To the historic church…..

The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria del Campo, dating to the 13th century, has been altered over the years, but it is a spectacularly beautiful church sitting on a quiet square. It’s construction was sponsored by the seafarer’s guild and the church has both Romanesque and Gothic facets with a particularly beautiful portal and rose window that was put in during the 14th century. The main doorway shows the carved Adoration of the Magi in the tympanum. St James is on the horse. I loved the design of the door! The name “del Campo” means it was outside the old city wall. Many churches in the 14th century were staffed by groups of secular priests, living a communal life and serving an extensive territory, which defines a collegiate church.

On to more narrow streets……..

Into de Barrio de Pescadores de La Coruña, where we see Casa do Remo. Fishermen were so important to the livelihood of the city that they were allowed to build houses in a neighborhood set aside for them (near the water) Their houses could be as wide as the length of their oars. So, the bigger their boat (the more fish provided), the bigger their oars, and the bigger their house! Their houses were not very wide, but went up and up, layer upon layer! Here we have a fisherman’s house: a very small house with big flower pots…….

Casa do Remo at #6 is very tall and very narrow! See where the man’s head is? The house is only slightly wider than the front door! There are four floors though! The only other house I have seen like this was in Conwy, Wales, a fishing port as well! Read about that house, that is in the Guinness Book of Records Here.