This route travels through the Ribeira Sacra. The Ribeira Sacra could be defined as one of inland Galicia’s best-kept secrets. This area is formed of 26 municipalities in the south of Lugo province and the north of Ourense province, bound together by the rivers Miño, Sil, Cabe and Bibei.
Starting in Lugo, for which it is advisable if possible to come a day before to do some tourism in Lugo where you can enjoy a little bit of everything in this beautiful city, both its history, the oldest in Galicia, as well as its heritage and its gastronomy.

Lugo:
We will go out on this First Route of Lugo, which is recommended if possible to come a day before to do some sightseeing in Lugo where you can enjoy a little bit of everything in this city, both its history, the oldest in Galicia, its heritage and its gastronomy.
One of the best things to do in Lugo is to cross the wall through one of its old gates such as Porta Miñá, which is preserved in a more original state.
This gate and the other 9 that gave access to the old Roman walled city were built at the end of the 3rd century when the Roman Empire needed to protect itself from the incursions of barbarian peoples.
The Porta Miñá or del Carmen, whose name comes from the exit to the Miño, is also the departure point for pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela following the Camino Primitivo, a variant of the Camino de Santiago that leaves from Oviedo.
This wall, 2,266 metres long and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is the only Roman wall in the world that is preserved intact around its entire perimeter, making it one of the most important historical monuments in the entire peninsula.
Gastronomy: The vast majority of bars and taverns in Lugo offer a free tapa with every drink or glass of wine.

Portomarin:
The town of Portomarín, located in the province of Lugo, on the banks of the Miño River, it retains the characteristics of the traditional Galician village, with arcades, cobbled streets and low houses, which gives it a special charm. Formerly, the town was located in a valley, but due to the construction of a reservoir in the 1960s, the town was under the waters of the Miño River and was moved to a nearby hill. This move made Portomarín a unique place, where you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the reservoir and the surrounding area. The municipality is known for being an important stop on the Camino de Santiago. Pilgrims often enjoy local hospitality, rest in cozy hostels and explore the charming cobbled alleys of Portomarín.
After Portomarin we will continue along very narrow and entertaining roads, which border the Miño river and its vineyards with many viewpoints which are beautiful to enjoy.

Taboada:
Taboada is located at the foot of the O Faro mountain range on the western side of the Belesar reservoir. Native oak and chestnut forests predominate, as well as agricultural areas and vine cultivation on the banks. Its Festivals Festa do Caldo de Ósos ("Bone Broth Festival"). "Bone broth" is a typical Taboada dish that enjoys a certain fame throughout Galicia. It is a broth made with the backbone of the pig, chickpeas, potatoes, brains, a sauté of oil, garlic and paprika and hot pepper to taste. Since the 90s this festival of gastronomic exaltation has been celebrated.

Mirador de Taboada:
Viewpoint over the Belesar reservoir, on the Miño River, with attractive views of the vineyard terraces. From the viewpoint you can see Ponte Mourulle, popularly known as the "screw bridge", due to the construction technique used. A short distance away is also the Ponte Mourulle nautical club, with magnificent facilities for practicing water sports.
Mourulle Bridge:
A 270-metre bridge on the banks of the Miño. It is a structure that joins the banks of the Miño River, in a natural and cultural environment of great importance in Galicia. A work of art and engineering Built in 1969 by the engineer José Antonio Torroja Cabanillas, father of the renowned singer Ana Torroja of the group Mecano, the Mourelle Bridge is much more than a physical connection between the parishes of San Xián de Ínsua and San Vicente de Mourulle. Made up of three spans, with the central one standing out with a span of 156 metres. Its metal structure design gives it a modern and elegant air, affectionately earning it the nickname "a ponte dos parafusos" or "bridge of screws".
Belesar Reservoir and its Hydroelectric Plant:
Belesar is one of the many artificial reservoirs built during the Franco military dictatorship for the development of hydroelectric energy through mini-power plants.
In August 1957, work began on this giant concrete reservoir, which included the diversion of the Miño River. It has a capacity of 655 hm3, making it the largest of the artificial reservoirs on the Miño. At its deepest point, it reaches a height of 135 metres.
The harsh conditions of its construction. More than 3,500 people worked on its construction for 5 years, 24 hours a day in shifts; another 2,000 worked indirectly in two 12-hour shifts a day. Many of those who worked on its construction were political prisoners who lived in very harsh conditions.
The construction of the Belesar reservoir left several towns under water, including Portomarín; Only its medieval part, which had been declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1946, was saved from being devastated, changing its location to its current location. The Romanesque church of San Xoan, also known as San Nicolás, or the “Casa del General” among other notable monuments, was moved stone by stone.


Chantada:
Between the Miño Canyon and the Galician Ridge with Monte Faro as its summit, its beautiful old town and the numerous examples of Romanesque architecture in the town stand out.
The geographical location of the municipality presents it as “the heart of Galicia”, and it has a variety of landscapes, mixing the mountains and the riverbank. Among its attractions we would add an impressive and abundant Historical Artistic Heritage where Romanesque is present to a large extent.
The origin of the name of Chantada is linked by many authors to “Plantata”, probably in relation to an old defensive fortification.
Its old town preserves traditional arcades, especially in Rúa do Comercio.
I have suggested a lunch stop here at restaurant Os Pendellos where you’ll find a great selection of homemade local dishes.

Church of Santa María de Nogueira de Miño:
The church stands at the top of the famous Cabo do Mundo meander. Santa Maria de Nogueira combines parts of the second half of the 12th century and late 18th century, a time when significant work was done on the façade, which now features the old Romanesque rose window and bell tower, and baroque shapes. Inside are some impressive Renaissance paintings, which were restored in the second decade of the 21st century and have earned it the nickname of the Galician Sistine Chapel. They are frescoes on lime mortar and sand. In the section of the apse you can see the scene of the Kiss of Judas, on the left panel, on the right a scene of the Via Crucis, and on the ceiling the four winds together with the moon and the sun.

Panton:
Panton is a small town whoose geographical boundaries are determined by the rivers Miño, Cabe and Sil, which make Pantón the Galician Mesopotamia! Until the 1990s, we can say that this municipality was very prosperous thanks to commerce, especially meat, since this sector was focused on the main street of Ferreira de Pantón, where the old national road 120 ran. With the creation of the current highway, Pantón lost a lot of business and, therefore, purchasing power. The main feature of Panton is a monastery called the Monasterio Cisterciense de Ferreria. This monastery is only a short walk from the town center and it offers an unusual experience for those who are able to speak some Spanish.

Monasterio Cisterciense de Ferreria:
The only female monastery that still preserves monastic life in the whole of Ribeira Sacra, also known as the Monastery of the Bernardas. It was founded in the 10th century as a double monastery and remained so until this type of monastery was suppressed in the 12th century. In 1175 it was annexed to the Cistercian order and a new stage of spiritual and economic renewal began. The nuns keep inside the monastery an image of a Virgin and Child, Romanesque from the end of the 12th century or beginning of the 13th century.


Monforte de Lemos:
The route ends in the city of Monforte de Lemos, located in between the valleys of the Miño River and the Sil River, in the south of Lugo. It is an important city in Galicia, and it is one of the places you can find on the Way of Saint James, one of the many different routes that lead you to Santiago de Compostela's Cathedral, where Saint James' tomb is located.
The city grew around the 10th-century Benedictine Abbey of San Vicente del Pino (now a hospital) and became the capital of the county of Lemos in the 12th century. Dominating Monforte is the medieval keep of the counts, built on the site of a Roman camp.
You won't want to miss a visit to the Colegio de Los Escolapios (Piarist School), a majestic building more than 100 meters in length. Construction of the structure was begun in 1593 and completed in 1913, after more than three centuries of work. Its grandeur evokes El Escorial Monastery and its walls bear the coats of arms of the counts of Lemos, the House of Alba and the Piarist Fathers, who were responsible for completing the work. The school's museum, previously the sacristy, houses paintings by El Greco and Andrea del Sarto, among others.

Monforte de Lemos is also an exceptional location for exploring the Ribera Sacra region, with its rivers, vineyards, Romanesque churches, gastronomy and festivals. In the area around the town you will discover indescribably beautiful landscapes, including the Sil River Canyon and the magical Sierra de O Caurel mountains.