Monumento a Manuel Baltar Santaló

​This monument designed by Camilo Vidal Rodríguez “Camilo Seira,” is dedicated to Manuel Baltar Santaló, a fourth-generation pharmacist in Padrón’s Baltar pharmacy, considered the second-oldest one in Galicia (established in 1816).

Six generations of pharmacists in the Baltar family have worked in this pharmacy: the original one was founded by José Baltar Varela, who started working out of a small space in his house; Angel Baltar Cortés, the second-generation pharmacist, remodelled the pharmacy (1873). He was a good friend of the railway engineer John Trulock (Camilo José Cela’s grandfather). It was Mr Trulock that gave him the collection of jars that still exists in the pharmacy.

He was also very friendly with Rosalía de Castro, with whom he exchanged letters and books; the third pharmacist was Ernesto Baltar Cortés; the fourth pharmacist, Manuel Baltar  Santaló, was helped by his wife, one of the few female pharmacists of that time; the fifth pharmacist was Óscar Baltar Montero; the sixth and current pharmacist is Óscar Baltar Bescansa.