Orense Attractions

Below the monastery of San Esteban, the Río Miño flows through a wild and narrow gorge, the Gargantas de Sil.

Leave Orense on C 546, which ascends the beautiful valley of the Río Miño, and in 17km/11mi turn right into a narrow road leading to the abandoned monastery of San Esteban de Ribas de Sil, finely situated on a hill, with a 10th century cemetery chapel, a Gothic church and two beautiful cloisters.

A few paces from the cathedral is the arcaded Plaza Mayor, the central feature of the old town. At its south end stands the Romanesque Palacio Episcopal (Bishop's Palace; scheduled as a national monument), with a beautiful arcaded courtyard, which now houses the Archeological Museum and Provincial Archives. The museum has two sections, one devoted to archeology (including prehistoric material) and the other to religious painting and sculpture.

At the near end of the bridge, on the banks of the Miño, is the Campo de los Remedios, in which is the pilgrimage chapel of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, with a much revered image of the Virgen de los Remedios.

4km/2.5mi west of Verín rises the mighty Castillo de Monterrey, a fortress guarding the frontier with Portugal which was later used as a prison and is now a parador. Over the centuries the castle developed into a little fortified town surrounded by three circuits of walls. Within the walls are a 13th century church with a very fine doorway and a beautiful retablo, a Jesuit college, a 13th century pilgrim hospice and the 14th century Torre de las Damas.

In the south of the town is the Romanesque church of La Trinidad (13th C.), with two round towers and a Gothic doorway.

In public gardens to the southwest of the Plaza Mayor are the three hot springs (66-68°C/151-154°F) of Las Burgas, which have been known since ancient times.

From Verín N 525 follows an up-and-down easterly course through the hills, and finally climbs to the Portillo de la Canda (1262m/4141ft), on the boundary between Galicia (Orense province) and Castile (Zamora province).

North of the Plaza Mayor, on the way to the railroad station, the Puente Romano crosses the Miño; it was built in 1230 on Roman foundations and has been frequently renovated or rebuilt since then. The central arch, 38m/125ft high, has a span of 43m/141ft. A short distance upstream is the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge).

The road continues via Ginzo (Galician Xinzo) de Limia (alt. 620m/2034ft) and through the valley of the Río Támega to Verín (alt. 612m/2008ft), a little town with thermal springs, beautifully situated at the meeting of several valleys.