-	All photographs of The Ribeira Sacra

As its own name says, A Ribeira Sacra is the land of temples and monasteries

Located in the provinces of Lugo and Ourense, Galicia, and surrounded by the banks of river Sil and Miño, the Ribeira Sacra, in latin Rivoira Sacrata, is probably the european area with the greatest number of monasteries and temples by square kilometre. In this way it is thought that its place name reflects this fact. To mention some monasteries which, nowadays, it is possible to visit, we highlight the following: San Estevo de Ribas do Sil, Santa Cristina de Ribas de Sil, San Pedro de Rocas, San Paio de Diomondi, San Pedro de Bembibre, Montederramo...The list could be longer, although the ones we mentioned are simply amazing.

At the same time geography and nature endowed the Ribeira Sacra with a gorgeus landscape and a wide and vast fauna. It could even remember to a Provençe or a Toscana à la gallega. The canyons along the river Sil speak for themselves. The magnificence of the river travelling across the rough hillsides and steep ascents, as well as its proportions, leaves the traveler speechless. In full moon nights the landscape becomes an amazing dimension.

If above it was mentioned the possible similitude with the french Provençe or the italian Toscana it could not be forgotten the wines, common to these three regions. The Ribeira Sacra is as well a widely known Protected Designation of Origin, A.O.C. Its wines are really apreciated since romans. Roman Amphoras have been found which have been used to transport the wine, later poured in Rome. The wine from Amandi was drunk by Julius Cesar.

Along the bed of the river it is possible to see wineyards located in terraces, which are a kind of local way to level the terrain that, due to its unevenness, it is not possible to work in such another way. The most common wine varietals in this area are mencía and, less well known but getting more and more important, godello.