Sandra González Álvarez | arquitectura . photos: © Héctor Santos-Díez

The Pazo do Martelo, also known as Pazo de Santa Columba, is located in the heart of Rianxo, facing the main square formed by the parish church of Santa Comba. Since its medieval origins, it has maintained immense symbolic value for the town: the very locality of Rianxo grew under the protection of this pazo, which for centuries shaped its main square and acted as the center of local power. It was owned by notable figures such as Paio Gómez Chariño de Soutomaior, a Galician admiral and medieval poet, linking the building to significant historical events beyond the local sphere. The current name comes from its last owners, the Martelo family —including Evaristo Martelo Paumán, a prominent Galician writer—, underscoring its role as a cultural reference. Cataloged as a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC) and declared a historical-artistic monument in 1973, the Pazo do Martelo has been, since 1983, the headquarters of the Rianxo Municipal Public Library, consolidating its public and cultural function in the urban center. Its relationship with the square is intense: the main facade faces this civic space, generating a constant dialogue with the church and other surrounding heritage elements. However, in recent decades, the immediate surroundings had lost quality as part of the square was designated for vehicle parking, blurring the monumental presence of the pazo within the urban fabric. Continue reading Sandra González Álvarez