Betanzos

**Betanzos**
	Betanzos
	Coat of Arms
Location
	; Location of Betanzos
	Coordinates :
Administration
Country	Spain
Autonomous Community	Galicia
Province	A Coruña
Mayor	María Faraldo (PP)
Geography
Land Area	24,3 km²
Altitude	36 m AMSL
Population
Population	13.165 (2007)
Density	541,77 hab./km² (2007)
General information
Native name	Betanzos (Galician)
Spanish name	Betanzos
Postal code	15300
Website	http://www.betanzos.es/

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For people named Betanzos, see Betanzos (surname).

Betanzos is a municipality in Galicia, Spain, in the Province of A Coruña. Betanzos was formerly called by its ancient Latin name Brigantium.

Igrexa de San Francisco (St Francis Church)

The town is located in a fertile valley close to the Atlantic Ocean, and it has one of the best preserved old quarters in Galicia. Noteworthy is the Igrexa de San Francisco (St Francis Church), erected in 1387 by order of count Fernán Pérez de Andrade, whose tomb, decorated with hunting scenes, can be seen inside of the church. The Igrexa de Santiago (St James Church), built in the 15th century by the guild of tailors, has a main portal decorated with a horseback statue of Saint James.

Other sights in the town are several town palaces, a 16th-century clock tower, and the town walls, which preserve three of their original four gates.

There are two celebrations in Betanzos in August each year. At the festival of San Roque, a very large paper balloon is launched. And later in August, decorated boats sail along the Mandeo river to the nearby Os Caneiros.