Monastery of Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil

Monastery of Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil is a former Benedictine abbey perched above the Sil River combining Baroque, Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architectural elements. The complex features multiple cloisters with distinct characteristics and a church that documents the region's architectural evolution.

Documented history begins in 921 when King Ordoño II granted an abbot permission to restore monastic life at this location. Over centuries the abbey developed into a major religious center wielding regional power and influence.

The name honors Saint Stephen and his veneration in the region, reflected in the building's design and decoration. Religious communities here shaped local spiritual life and influenced the development of surrounding settlements for centuries.

The complex operates as a hotel and can be visited by tourists through guided tours on certain weekdays at set times. The site sits in a hilly area with good accessibility and offers overnight accommodation for those wishing to stay longer.

The Bishops' Cloister preserves the original burial sites of nine medieval bishops who abandoned their positions to live as monks. This unusual choice reveals how deeply this place mattered spiritually to the religious elite of its time.