Ribas de Sil: Trails, Water and Culture

Ribas de Sil lies on the Lugo side of the Canón do Sil, which forms a natural boundary between the provinces of Lugo and Ourense. On sunny and shaded slopes, the Canón do Sil combines Mediterranean and Atlantic vegetation and landscapes.

Landscape

The Ruta da Cubela leads to A Cubela, which lies on a nearly 180-degree meander shaped by the Sil. As the PR-G 180, the Ruta da Cubela is a circular route of almost 14 kilometres. About half of it runs close to the Sil; the other half leads through higher areas with native forests and meadows.

Routes

The Camiño de Inverno includes a 14.6-kilometre stage from Quiroga via San Clodio to A Cubela, which runs almost entirely through Ribas del Sil. The Ruta do Ouro is an 8-kilometre route that can be travelled by bus. Along this route, you can see the remains of thousands-of-years-old gold-mining sites in Peites, Figueiredo and Piñeira.

The trail through the Complejo Arqueológico de Covallón is a 4.5-kilometre hiking route that connects four Roman gold-mining sites in Ribas del Sil. The different route lengths provide a clear basis for categorising the trails according to your preferred amount of walking per day.

The trails connect different landscape and historical features. On the Ruta da Cubela, higher areas with native forests and meadows follow the section close to the Sil. The Camiño de Inverno links Quiroga, San Clodio and A Cubela in a stage whose route runs almost entirely through Ribas del Sil. The Ruta do Ouro draws attention to the gold-mining sites in Peites, Figueiredo and Piñeira, while the trail through Covallón connects four Roman sites within Ribas del Sil.

History

The Igrexa de Santa María de Torbeo dates from the late Romanesque period; it may have been built at the end of the 13th century. The Abbey of San Clodio was founded around a thousand years ago. The church, a tower and the entrance portal have survived from the abbey.

A Ponte de Ferro was completed in 1883. It has two stone arches that support two metal bridge girders. The two girders are 78 and 18 metres long.

Ribas del Sil is therefore home to buildings from different eras standing side by side: the late Romanesque church, the abbey founded around a thousand years ago and A Ponte de Ferro, completed in 1883. At the bridge, two stone arches support the two metal girders.

Water

The Playa fluvial de San Clodio has a large bathing area. It also features an amphitheatre where sociocultural activities take place throughout the year.

Outdoor sports facilities for football, basketball and table tennis are available. The Playa fluvial de San Clodio also has a parking area for motorhomes.

At San Clodio, the bathing area, amphitheatre and outdoor sports facilities therefore come together in one place. The amphitheatre is not limited to a single season, as sociocultural activities take place there throughout the year.

Local Tradition

A bakery in Ribas del Sil continues to make bread and empanadas in a wood-fired oven.

Other Places

Directly linked places are Donís, Airoá, Bolmente, Rinlo, Surribas, Vilar, Pedrafita Do Cebreiro and Bispo.

To the higher-level travel overview: Lugo.