Hidden among the chestnut forests that descend toward the Sil River, the Monastery of Santa Cristina is one of the most evocative sites in the Ribeira Sacra. Founded in the Middle Ages, probably in the 10th century, it reached great splendor in the 12th and 13th centuries under the Benedictine order. Its Romanesque church, with three apses and an elegant bell tower, is an architectural gem that blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Abandoned after the 19th-century disentailment, today it captivates visitors with the serenity of its setting, where nature and history embrace in almost mystical silence.
42º 23′ 44″ N – 7º 35′ 17″ W
Parish: Santa Cristina de Caxide
Municipality: Parada de Sil
County: Terra de Caldelas
