One of the most famous and well-known festivals in the province of A Coruña, in Galicia, are the María Pita festivities. During the month of August, the city is involved in these celebrations with a wide variety of cultural events, concerts, fairs and even historical re-enactments. But who was María Pita? In this article, we tell you the curious story of this heroine and how she managed to stop an invasion.
Mayor Fernández de la Cámara y Pita, popularly known as María Pita, was born around 1560 in Cambre, into a peasant family. Not many details are known of her private life, apart from the fact that she married four times. Her first husband was Juan Alonso de Rois, a modest butcher with whom she had a daughter. However, this relationship did not last long, as Juan Alonso died a few years after her marriage.
Pita did what was customary at the time when she was widowed, she looked for another husband. This is how she met Gregorio de Rocamonde, her second husband, who played a fundamental role in the whole story.
The beginning of the invasion
This woman did not become famous for her marriages, but for her role in a historic event in the city. In the 16th century, King Philip II of Spain and Queen Elizabeth I of England were at war. For this reason, in 1589, the British Queen decided to send an expedition to A Coruña, led by the famous and feared corsair Francis Drake.
The British fleet outnumbered the city’s defences and their attacks were constant in order to get the people of A Coruña to surrender. When the British managed to penetrate the centre, the civilians had to come to their defence and take part in the battle.
It was then that Gregorio de Rocamonde, María Pita’s husband, fell in battle. At this point, filled with rage and anger at the murder of her husband, Pita decided to join the fight. She killed an English ensign with her own hands and, shouting “whoever has honour, follow me”, she encouraged all the people of A Coruña to fight for their city.
This turned the tide of the conflict completely, so much so that, according to legend, the English fled. This feat was brought to the attention of the king, who awarded María the title of ‘soldier of distinction’ and granted her a pension.
Today, María Pita is a symbol of resistance, strength and bravery for Galicians. In A Coruña she has her own statue, located in the centre of a square named after her, and even a museum, the Casa Museo María Pita.
Join in the María Pita celebrations
Every year this legendary victory against the English is commemorated with the María Pita festivities. This celebration, which takes place from 1 August to 1 September, offers a wide range of activities for locals and tourists alike to enjoy the culture of Galicia.
The 2024 programme is varied and includes a performance by Omar Montes, the Festival Noroeste Estrella Galicia, the traditional book fair and the re-enactment of the naval battle against the English.
We encourage you to visit A Coruña this month and experience this unique celebration in your own flesh. Check the full programme of the Fiestas de María Pita in the following link.
