Monasterio de Santa María de Meira

Monasterio de Santa María de Meira is a Cistercian monastery in northwestern Spain featuring a church built according to strict order guidelines. The structure displays three naves, barrel vaults, and a Latin cross plan, with only portions of the original complex still standing today.

The monastery was founded in 1143 when twelve monks and an abbot from Clairvaux Abbey were sent by King Alfonso VII. This establishment marked a wave of Cistercian expansion across the region during the medieval period.

The main altar features an 18th-century retable with optical illusions that make the church interior appear deeper and more complex than it actually is. This artistic approach helps the space feel grander and more elaborate than its true dimensions.

Visitors can access the monastery through guided tours organized by the local tourism office. It is advisable to book ahead and wear comfortable shoes, as paths within and around the remains are uneven.

The baptistery is located unusually far from the main altar, suggesting ancient immersion rituals may have been practiced at this site before the monastery was built. This layout shows that monks adapted to older local practices when designing the religious space.