Ribeira Sacra, Geographic region in northern Galicia, Spain
Ribeira Sacra is a geographic region in northern Galicia in Spain and covers twenty-six municipalities across Lugo and Ourense provinces. Deep canyons run through the area where the Miño and Sil rivers wind between green hills and steep slopes.
Romans began winemaking here and planted the first vines on the steep slopes. Monks founded monasteries from the sixth to twelfth century and expanded viticulture further, creating a tradition that lasted for centuries.
The name means sacred riverbank and refers to the many monasteries tucked between vineyards and gorges. Visitors find chapels and hermitages along walking paths and viewpoints that still draw pilgrims today.
Visitors can explore the region on hiking trails or take boat trips on the rivers to experience the landscape from different perspectives. The French and Winter Routes of the Way of Saint James pass through the area and connect several historic sites.
Wine grows on terraced slopes called socalcos where the gradient often exceeds thirty percent. Harvesting is done entirely by hand because machines cannot operate on the steep terrain.
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