The Religious Footprint route

This easy urban route showcases the various religious landmarks in the town of  Ribadeo: churches, chapels, and monasteries; allowing you to get acquainted with the stories and anecdotes that shaped Ribadeo's history.

Outside this course, we recommend visiting other chapels such as the Atalaya, San Miguel and San Lázaro.

Plaza de España

The beating heart of town is next to a medieval wall, in what used to be the outskirts. Many edifices walk us through its history: noblemen's residences, the pazo of Ibáñez (now home to the town council), modern façades, the cosmopolitan Torre de los Moreno, and the Tourism Office.

The centre of the plaza has been planted with exuberant trees since the 18th century, and around them there are sculptures dedicated to the memory of Ribadeo's illustrious sons, José Ma Alonso Trelles y Jarén (El Viejo Pancho) and Dionisio Gamallo Fierros.

Convento de Santa Clara

The exact date of this convent's construction is lost to time, although it is documented as far back as the 14th century. The estate has had a turbulent history. It was heavily damaged and almost destroyed by a fire in the 16th century; then, in the 19th century, it was used as headquarters for Napoleon's troops, and then as a military hospital.  

The temple still preserves its original structure in its interior, along with an interesting collection of pictures.

Iglesia de Santa María del Campo

According to traditional accounts, this church was part of a Franciscan convent founded by none other than Francis of Assisi during his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.  

The story of this building, located outside the city walls, goes back a long way. Very little remains of the medieval temple or its quarters. Some art assets, such as baroque and neoclassical imagery, have been preserved.  

The church bears the coats of arms of important noble families of Ribadeo. The façade has zigzagging medieval ornamentation, a common feature in mendicant monasteries that can also be found in the Atalaya chapel.

Plaza de Abastos

This elegant market hall was donated to the city by Don Ramón González Fernández, an Indiano who supported many other initiatives such as the city library and the Ateneo.

Designed by architect Ramiro Saiz, this art déco building opened in 1925.

It's a clear example of the widespread use of wrought iron and concrete in the early 20th century in order to grant functional buildings a bit of elegance.

Following medieval tradition, the town holds a market each Wednesday.

Avenida de Galicia

In the second half of the 20th century, Ribadeo established itself as the trading centre of the region and a tourist location. Its urban part became larger, absorbing the adjoining parishes. Its railway station, schools, and the old road to Asturias turned into a focal point, further helping the town's expansion. The Avenida de Galicia is one of those pillars, concentrating residents and commercial activity.

Virgen del Camino chapel

Although the current building is from the 19th century, the altarpiece inside is from the 17th century, hinting at a possible medieval origin. It owes the name “Camino” to the fact that it is located in a road which linked Viveiro and Mondoñedo, although the pilgrimage to Santiago could also be the reason.  

The main altar, finished in 1699, is a baroque work by Tirso Toxeiro, and depicts Our Lady next to St. Lucia and St. Paul. In it one can also find the old coat of arms of Ribadeo, a key above the waves of the sea.

San Roque chapel

Urged by the plague and other infectious diseases, many temples were built throughout Galicia to honour Saint Roch.

The one in Ribadeo dates back to the 16th century and has always been liked by the townsfolk.

The chapel went through several expansions, the most important of which took place in the 18th century. Its altarpiece, presided over by St. Sebastian, St. Dominic, and St. Thomas Aquinas, is from that time.

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