Centro de Interpretación da Lagoa de Antela
Municipal interpretation centre in Sandiás on the vanished Antela lagoon, its drainage and the recovery of the areeiras (former sand pits).
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Lagoa de Antela was for centuries one of the largest lagoons on the Iberian Peninsula. It was surrounded by legends, such as that of the sunken city of Antioch and the one about mosquitoes turned into soldiers of King Arthur. From 1959 the Instituto Nacional de Colonización (National Colonisation Institute) drained it to turn its bed into farmland, a change that transformed the landscape, the economy and daily life in the district.
The Casa da Lagoa de Antela, located in the centre of Sandiás and run by the Concello, was created to keep the memory of that lagoon alive. After several years without activity, it reopened to the public in 2017.
The permanent exhibition explains how the lagoon formed, how it was drained and how the abandoned sand pits, the areeiras of Sandiás, are being restored today. It combines models, audiovisual displays, interactive elements and panels with ethnographic objects, legends and testimonies from residents about life before and after the drainage. From the house, routes also lead to the areeiras, with geological and ethnographic heritage (stilt houses, sod houses) and bird-watching hides in the protection zone of the Limia ZEPA bird protection area.
Highlights
- History of the Lagoa de Antela, from its formation to its drainage
- Models, audiovisual displays and interactive elements
- Residents' testimonies on life before and after the drainage
- Route to the areeiras of Sandiás, with bird-watching hides
- Legends of the lagoon: the sunken city of Antioch
Permanent exhibition
- Exposición permanente sobre la laguna de Antela – Route through the formation, drainage and recovery of the lagoon, with models, audiovisual displays, panels and residents' testimonies.
- Operated by
- Concello de Sandiás
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €1 |
|---|---|
| Groups | €1 per personGroups of more than 20 people pay the same price per person. |
| Exhibition and guided visit to the areeiras of Sandiás (groups of more than 20 people, on request) | €2Book on 677 48 80 20. |
€1 per person for the guided visit to the permanent exhibition, for individual visitors and groups of up to 20 people. With the visit to the areeiras, €2 per person.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The centre is in the old town of Sandiás.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The centre does not publish information on additional services.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The exhibition is visited with a guide. For the excursion to the areeiras of Sandiás, booking is required on 677 48 80 20. |
