O Castelo de Cira

O Castelo de Cira in Silleda, Pontevedra, traces its origins to 1115 when nobleman Bernardo Suárez Deza founded this medieval fortification. The castle gained historical prominence in 1121 when Queen Doña Urraca imprisoned Archbishop Diego Xelmírez within its walls, a significant event in medieval Galician politics. Following Urraca's residence, the fortress eventually inherited to Xelmírez's descendants, establishing its connection to ecclesiastical nobility. The castle was destroyed by the Irmandiños but subsequently reconstructed by the Count of Altamira. Today, only the 15th-century keep tower remains standing, though the site maintains recognition as a Good of Cultural Interest and lies near the Way of St. James pilgrimage routes, connecting visitors to both medieval history and sacred journeys across Galicia.