Galicia Tourist Guide 2018

As Ermidas shrine. O Bolo

Sanctuaries and vineyards

The proposed route begins in Esgos , inOurense, and ends in OBolo , which is also located in the same province. These wild mountains were the per- fect place for the anchorites and her- mits that lived there in long ago times. The land appears to be sprinkled with architectural vestiges that are a testa- ment to region's history, where life is peaceful. The first place you must visit is San Pedro de Rocas . Located in the heart of Ribeira Sacra , a land of ancestral vineyards, it was at this monastery where Christianity began to take hold in Galicia. The structure houses

the remains of the only known world map, also called the BeatusMap, from the Roman era in all of Europe. The monastery, which dates back to the 6th century , its three chapels, dig out from the rocks , and its an- thropomorphic tombs will send you back to the days of yore, and you will feel the solitude of those who once lived in this remote area. Nearby, you will find a fountain from which wa- ter claimed to heal warts and smooth wrinkled flows. At the Ribeira Sacra Visitor's Centre, which is right next to the monastery, you can learn more about the re-

gion's ancient traditions and trades, as well as about the wines produced in the area. Not far from there is the Monastery of Santa María of Montederramo . According to the legends, it was es- tablished in the 12th century by a monk and two roe deer. The stone statue of this religious man guards the entrance to the temple. The Pro- cessional Cloister and the Lodging Cloister are the complex's true gems. If you continue on, you will reach Castro Caldelas , where you will find the Os Remedios shrine , which con- tains a strange religious art museum.

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