Castle of Santa Cruz facts for kids
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The Castle of Santa Cruz (in Galician, Castelo de Santa Cruz) is an old castle found on a small island. This island has the same name as the castle and is located near A Coruña in Galicia, Spain. You can find it in the town of Porto de Santa Cruz, which is part of Oleiros. This strong fortress was built in the 1500s. It was made by a general named Diego Dasmariñas to help protect the bay of A Coruña.
A Look Back: The Castle's Story
Building a Fortress
Work on the Castle of Santa Cruz began around 1594 or 1595. At that time, Diego Dasmariñas was the main military leader, known as the captain general, in Galicia. The castle was designed by a military engineer named Pedro Rodríguez Muñiz.
Later, in the 1700s, the castle was made even stronger. New walls, protective barriers, and buildings were added. This work happened when Martín Cermeño was the captain general of Galicia.
Changing Uses
Over time, the castle was no longer needed for defense. It lost its important military role and was left empty. A man named José Quiroga Pérez de Deza bought the castle. He was married to a famous writer, Emilia Pardo Bazán. They used the castle as their summer home.
In 1939, their daughter, Blanca Quiroga, gave the castle to the army. It was then used as a summer camp for children. These children had lost their parents during the Spanish Civil War, a big conflict in Spain. The castle served as a camp until 1978.
A Center for Nature
In 1989, the local government of Oleiros bought the castle. They wanted to use it for teaching people about nature and the environment. In 2001, a special center was opened there. It is called CEIDA, which stands for "Center for University Extension and Environmental Outreach of Galicia."
This center was created through teamwork. The Xunta de Galicia (the regional government), the University of A Coruña, and the Oleiros city council all worked together. Today, the castle helps people learn about protecting our planet.
