La area known as the Ribeira Sacra is located in Galicia, between the south of the province of Lugo and the north of that of Ourense. Its capital is Monforte de Lemos and it is known for having the banks of the rivers Miño, Sil and Cabe. One of its most significant areas is undoubtedly the so-called Cañones del Sil, one of the most spectacular landscapes that we can find in this place.
This part of Galicia is very interesting for several things. Their natural landscapes that are amazing, the many hiking trails, the passage of the Camino de Santiago and also for the heritage and gastronomy. All of them are more than enough reasons to take an excursion to this place.
Boat trip through the Sil Canyons
One of the most popular activities that can be done in the Ribeira Sacra area is to take a small catamaran trip through the Sil Canyons to admire this beautiful natural space. There are piers from which these catamarans depart and companies that make the tour, although you have to make sure of the hours and days, because in high season we may not have a place if we intend to catch it at the moment. The route takes us along the river enjoying the landscape of the canyons from below, being one of the best experiences. There are two piers, from Doade en Sober and from Santo Estevo. You can consult the routes, prices and departures in the different companies, to take the one that interests us the most.
Routes through the viewpoints
If we have already seen the canyons from the river, it may be time to take a route through the viewpoints, since there are so many. The good news is that the vast majority can be reached by car, so it is not necessary to do long hiking routes if we are not physically prepared for it or if we do not have too much time. The viewpoints are worth it because from them we can have the best views of the canyons and also take the best photos. Some of them are the Cabezoás viewpoint over the Cotarro das Boedas meander, Balcones de Madrid, which is the Mirador de Torgás and is one of the most famous. From this viewpoint you can see some of the well-known vineyards in which the grapes are grown to create the delicious wines of the area with designation of origin. The Mirador Cadeiras has a very modern style and is located next to the Sanctuary of Nosa Señora das Cadeiras.
Monforte de Lemos
This town is located in the province of Lugo and is the capital of the Ribeira Sacra area as well as one of the main centers to see if we go to this area. The Monastery of San Vicente do Pino it is one of its most significant and important buildings. It is located in the center and at a high point where there were apparently Celtic settlements in ancient times. It stands out for its neoclassical style and inside we can see a beautiful cloister, as well as the image of Our Lady of Montserrat. Next to this monastery is the Torre del Homenaje which is what is preserved from the old Castillo de San Vicente, which was the residence of the Counts of Lemos. We can also see the Condal Palace from the XNUMXth century.
Another place to visit is the College of Our Lady of Antigua, a monastic complex located next to the Cabe river. It is a large Herrera building in which we can see several neoclassical cloisters, a beautiful monumental staircase and the Pinacoteca de los Escolapios that preserves important works of art. In this town you can also see other museums such as the Galician Ceramic Sargadelos Art Museum or the Railway Museum.
DO Ribeira Sacra wine route
It was not until 1997 that the wine from this area had a Denomination of Origin, but today it is a highly recognized wine. That is why, since there are a large number of wineries in the surroundings, wine routes are established to be able to taste these wines and visit the beautiful vineyards where they are found. They are located on the slopes of the Sil river and therefore have a special microclimate that makes this type of wine only grow in this area. In Monforte de Lemos we will find the Wine Interpretation Center, where we can learn more about the tradition and the vineyards. But it is also interesting to hire a tasting in one of the many wineries, some of which allow you to see the vineyards and how this grape is grown. In addition, this is the ideal place to enjoy a great gastronomy such as Galician, accompanying the wines of the delicious meats that are in this area.