A thousand reasons to enjoy it!

The Ribeira Sacra is not only famous for its wines, there are a thousand reasons to enjoy it! The impressive natural and cultural heritage that Ribeira Sacra possesses is not accidental. It is the result of its proximity to the sea, which provides abundant rainfall. For thousands of years, these precipitations have carved deep canyons of over 400 meters and very narrow. These shapes, along with the perpendicular orientation to the entry of storms, allow conditionsinside the canyonsto be warmer and sunnier than outside of them.

This habitat has allowed biodiversity to be very varied, with species such as the Carballo or birch, which are clearly Atlantic, coexisting with cork oaks or holm oaks, clearly Mediterranean species. Man has not been unaware of these exceptional natural conditions and, since its establishment, has taken advantage of what nature offered him. In the area, remains belonging to prehistoric times can be found (petroglyphs, mamoas, etc.). The Romans extracted iron, the Visigoths built troglodyte monasteries in the rock (San Pedro de Rocas), Cistercian hermit monks began to populate and organize it until accommodating the great monasteries of San Esteban de Ribas de Sil and Oseira.

Currently, with the thousand-year-old wine-growing cultivation that stands out, all kinds of leisure activities are developed: tourism, sports, etc.

Where to stay? What to see? Active tourism? It is essential to visit the viewpoints and take catamaran routes along the rivers. You also have to see the monasteries of San Pedro de Rocas, Esteban de Ribas de Sil, and Oseira. You cannot miss the monastery of the Escolapios in Monforte de Lemos. This was the residence of the personal friend of the king who dominated more territories, Philip II, and has many surprises that you cannot miss.

In the region, there are many places to stay. Since our family also has a manor house dedicated to rural tourism, we recommend that you stay there. At Casa da Vila, you will find a family treatment, truly homemade food, and ingredients from our own origin.

If you prefer other more crowded places, you can stay at the “Paradores Nacionales” in the area: San Esteban de Ribas de Sil or Monforte de Lemos. If you prefer to do it in an austere way and take advantage of meditating and sharing monastic life, you can stay at the Ferreira de Pantón monastery (only for women) or Oseira.

Where and what to eat in the Ribeira Sacra? In Galicia, and particularly in this region, the cuisine is exceptional. In addition to the tourist spots, there are also local restaurants frequented by the locals. One of the most popular is Casa Antonio, located in the parish of Goyán. But, in general, any place where you eat in the Ribeira Sacra, you're sure to enjoy deliciousfood!

Active Tourism

The offer is extensive and you will find many references on the Internet, but we want to highlight river navigation on the Sil, road cycling routes with the local cycling club (CC Torre de San Vicente Monforte de Lemos), or hiking. Search for them on the Internet!