Compostela – Baroque Architecture and Trails along the Río Mao

In Compostela, the route to the Fervenzas do Río Nau waterfalls begins at Casa da Escusalla in the village of Compostela. On the Camino Miñoto Ribeiro, you pass through the village of Compostela to the Igrexa de San Salvador de Manín.

Discover more places through these names: Casdenodres, A Reza, Montederramo, Valdín, A Mezquita, Vilanova, Esposende and Amoeiro.

Culture

Those who consider baroque architecture a focus of their trip will find the Igrexa de San Salvador de Manín, a building regarded as one of the finest examples of baroque architecture in the comarca. According to its inscription, the Igrexa de San Salvador de Manín was built in 1764. In 1769, the church was moved stone by stone to another location. In 1992, it was moved again, also stone by stone to another location.

Trails

If you would like to take the length of a stage into account, the A Madalena–Compostela section is 2.8 km long. To reach Compostela, follow the OU-540 for 2.2 km from A Madalena. The trail then branches off onto an ascending path.

Access to the Igrexa de San Salvador de Manín begins at the OU-540. 700 metres after kilometre 70, turn left onto a paved track. Follow it for 950 metres.

On the Camino Miñoto Ribeiro, the trail leads from the Igrexa de San Salvador de Manín to A Escusalla via a surfaced, downhill path. The route therefore describes another section between the church building and A Escusalla, without leaving the type of path unspecified: the surface is paved and the route runs downhill.

The redesign of Compostela’s town centre improved accessibility. This documents a structural change in the centre of the village with an explicitly stated connection to accessibility.

This results in different trail conditions for planning your route: access to the church is described via the OU-540 and the paved track, while the Camino section to A Escusalla is surfaced and runs downhill. The short distance between A Madalena and Compostela is followed by an ascent. Along the route by the Río Mao, the water level remains an independent factor, as flooding can prevent passage.

Nature

Along the route by the Río Mao, you will encounter restored mills, rapids, waterfalls and natural pools. The individual landscape features range from historic mill complexes to moving and falling water.

Flooding can prevent passage at some points along the route by the Río Mao. This restriction affects passage at specific points on the route and is directly connected to the water level.

History and Local References

In the vicinity of Compostela, in Lobios, A Escusalla is described as one of the most mysterious places. In Lobios, A Escusalla is also referred to as the “haunted house” of Xurés.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ourense.