Historic sites at the Ribeira Sacra Orense, Galicia, Spain

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			Historical Routes 1 • Monastery of Santa Cristina de Ribas de Sil On our way down on a winding road we find the tiny monastry of Santa Cristina, a real jewel of the Ribeira Sacra romanesque style, in midst of a natural paradise with a spectacular view on the river Sil Canyon. • The wall of A Teixeira(Stone cross of Lumeares) Remainings of the walled tower at A Teixeira. Original wall of the ancient settlement. Today it is surrounded by the borders of the actual village. Parts of the wall can still be seen at the upper part of the village. • Cruceiro de Lumeares From 1762, it is of baroque style and represents the symbols of the Passion and a virgin. It is situated on a hill with panoramic views. • The castle of Castro Caldelas Interesting village, situated on a former iron age and roman settlement. Especially recomended: Castro Caldela’s castle of the XII Century remaining three towers and the walls. Also its noble houses with galleries and paved streets. • Monastery of Montederramo Cistercian, founded in the XII Century by Dña. Teresa de Portugal at Seoane Vello. It combines the plateresque and baroque style. Outstanding is the church’s main altarpiece built by Mateo de Prado (it has been dismantled and is undergoing a process of restoration in the sacristy).


			Historical Routes 2 • Monastery of San Esteban de Ribas de Sil It was founded by a monk called Franquila during the 10th century with the aim to gather all hermits in one single building. It has different cloisters: the Renaissance cloister, the loister of the Bishops started during the romanesque period and finished during the decadent gothic-flamish period of the 17th century. The facade is of baroque and renaissance style. The church is as well remarkable, especially for its altarpiece, a work of art by Juan de Anges, its sacristy and the stony romanesque altar. Worth mentioning is also the landscape and the immediate surroundings. • The megalithic burials of Moura and the petroglyphics of Lamaforcada The megalithic burials were built between 3500-2000 BC by the first farmers and shepherds of this area. • Monastery of San Pedro de Rocas The origins date back to 573. there are still remains of the romanesque style of the13th century, the bell tower dates back to the 15th century and the rest is of the 17th century. The temple has three crypts which were completely excavated from the mountain rock. Worth mentioning are also the belfry of the bell tower built upon a monolith and the anthropomorphe graves. The monastery is surrounded by the "rocky mountains" of the Barbeirón • The Castle of Maceda The Castle of Maceda was given as a dowry to Dña. María Fernández, the daughter of the second marriage between Dña. Teresa de Portugal and the Earl D. Fernando Pérez de Traba, when she got married to D. Xoán Ares de Novóa. • Monastery of Xunqueira de Espadañedo Cistercian; its facade is of neoclassical style and the church is of romanesque style. It was declared a National Monument in 1980. Today there are only three walls of the cloister left. The sundial of 1663 is also particularly interesting.

Historical Routes 1

Historical Routes 2