of Guitiriz Though the early settlers were of
Celtic origin and the Romans knew about the therapeutic properties of the
thermae, it was not till the arrival of the
Suebi after the collapse of the
Roman Empire that this Spa Town became really popular for the first time in the 6th century. The name "Guitiriz" is derived from "Witirici", the
Latin genitive of Witiricus meaning "
the place owned by Witiricus" (i.e.: Witiricus the
Suebi warlord). In the 14th century the entire
Terra Chá Region (including Guitiriz and its capital Villalba) ended up as part of the domains of
Fernán Pérez de Andrade whose family were to become the
First Counts of Villalba during the reign of the
Catholic Monarchs. Amongst other remains in the area is a well conserved
medieval fortification, the Castle of Parga, and a
Gothic bridge. ==See also==