Many people have asked me what are the purpose and the significance, if any, of the name “CASTRO-CASTALIA” that I chose to use as my Prefix. And there certainly is a reason.

I am a big enthusiast of Old History and Mythology and also of Literature and particularly Poetry, and I thought it would be nice to somehow put together two names that bring together all these concepts. Also in my opinion the two words that better define the character and personality of a Bullmastiff are fortitude and sensitivity.

“Castro” is not just the name that ancient fortified constructions received in the Iberian Peninsula back in the VI century bC, where people gathered together whenever there was a menace of invasion or fight against other tribes or clans, but also the surname of Rosalía de Castro (1837-1885), (Chris great-great-grandaunt), who has been considered as one of the greatest Poets of all times in Spanish Literature and the forerunner of modern poetry in Spain, who initiated, together with Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, a new metrics in poetry based in the purity of forms and ideas.

“Castalia” is the name that was given in Greek and Roman mythology to the nymph Apollo loved so dearly, a daughter of the eldest and most powerful god of Greece. When she ran away from his lover, Castalia dove into one of the water springs that surrounded the Oracle of Delphos. Profoundly dismayed with her action, Apollo decided to consecrate this particular fountain to her by giving it her name and to the nine Muses –the goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences--, Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania, to ensure that being close to it or drinking its crystalline waters would inspire the genius of poetry, arts and knowledge  to those who did.

That is how “CASTRO-CASTALIA” became the name for my Breeding Programme.

(Original text written by Christina of Lima-Netto and Federico Baudin specifically for this web page and protected with Copyright. Not even whole can be reproduced not partially by any way, without Castro-Castalia's express assent in writing).