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Location. Almoite. Parish of Santa María de Almoite. Monument type. Religious. Interest: architectural and artistic; ethnographical and historical Dated. Unknow. Late Middle Age elements and Baroque style. Description. The “Igrexa de Almoite” (Almoite Church) is composed of a religious temple, Stations of the Cross in the surrounding wall, a wayside shrine, and a cross at the main entrance. Its style is Baroque. It represents a set of elements typical of religious architecture in Galicia that allows us to visualise an era. The “Cruceiro de pedra” (Stone Cross) rises at the foot of the stairs leading to the main entrance. The fluted column displays the images of Adam and Eve and the Serpent in the allegorical scene of the expulsion from Paradise. Finished in a capital with an abacus topped by a two-sided cross with the figures of Christ and the Virgin. In regards to the workmanship and carvings it has great similarities with what are considered the best crosses in Galicia, such as the “Cruceiro de Hio” (in Cangas do Morrazo). The Stations of the Cross is made up of several crosses along the wall of the churchyard. The Wayside Shrine is located on the wall of the churchyard of […]

Location. Monte Medo. Parish of San Cibrao de Lama Má. Type of monument. “Mámoa”, megalithic item from the pre-Celtic era. Interest: architectural, historical, ethnographical. Dated. Unknown. The megalithic culture of the Neolithic extends between fourth and third millennia BC; other Galician mámoas are dated to prior to the fourth millennium, like the “Chousa Nova”, in the municipality of Silleda. Description. We find two “mámoas” (Neolithic monuments) in the same forestal area, about 70 meters apart from one another. They are low in profile, with a diameter of about 20 to 25 metres. Considered to be burial chambers similar to dolmen. Inside them there are walls and ceilings formed by large boulders and slabs, which were then covered with soil. Their dating varies, and advances in dating techniques have lead to changes in this regard. Most experts agree these monuments date back to the Neolithic. “Mámoas” are very common in Galicia, and as megalithic monuments, are characteristic of the North-western peninsular. This abundance has given rise to several denominations: medorra, medoña or modorra; are the most common monikers. These names gave rise to names of places and people, and to ethnonyms originating from these locations. The mámoas have a characteristic form […]

Location. A Chaira. Parish of San Salvador de Molgas. Type of monument. Petroglyph. Megalithic item. Interest: architectural, historical, ethnographical. Dated. The Bronze Age (2nd millennium BC) Description. In “Insuiña” or “Ansuiña”, three petroglyphs are located about 100 meters from each other. Their location is easy to find because they are outside the football field of Baños de Molgas. • Petroglyph 1, features a herringbone or plant, with stem and by ending in cups. • Petroglyphs 2 and 3, are a set of cups with indeterminate representations; very common in this municipality. What is a petroglyph? A petroglyph is any shape or form made on a stone or rock. Their function is thought to have been ritual and symbolic. However, even in the Bronze Age the practice of farming were already widespread, hence we believe that they were used for important rituals in the life cycles of the people or year. Their use and symbolism is not absolutely known, but there was almost certainly a magical significance connected to the territory, animals and even to people; and were perhaps used in initiation rituals or hunting. In Galicia and north-western peninsular there are three types of common themes: naturalistic (represent human beings […]

Location. Common land “Lampaza”. Parish of St. Stephen of Ambia. Type of monument. Petroglyph. Megalithic item. Interest: architectural, historical, ethnographical. Dated. The Bronze Age (2nd millennium BC) Description. Set of petroglyphs near the Arnoia. Referred to as: • Lampaza III: several cups distributed on a rectangular, low cliff. • Lampaza IV: Set of several cups on a a rounded cliff, hidden among the vegetation. What is a petroglyph? A petroglyph is any shape or form made on a stone or rock. Their function is thought to have been ritual and symbolic. However, even in the Bronze Age the practice of farming were already widespread, hence we believe that they were used for important rituals in the life cycles of the people or year. Their use and symbolism is not absolutely known, but there was almost certainly a magical significance connected to the territory, animals and even to people; and were perhaps used in initiation rituals or hunting. In Galicia and north-western peninsular there are three types of common themes: naturalistic (represent human beings as people or animals), geometric: (circles, spirals, squares, or even more complex shapes such as mazes), weapons and shields (Less common). Catalogación. Municipal Inventory of Heritage Assets.

Location. Parish of St. Martin de Betan. • Petroglyphs. “Monte Cubreiro” or “Cobreiro”. • Mámoas. “A Seara”, west of Mount Cubreiro. Monument type. Interest: architectural, historical, ethnographical. • Petroglyph. Megalithic monument of the Bronze Age (II millennium BC). Up to four petroglyphs with various symbols found in different areas of the mountain, probably from different periods and made with different intentions: cups, irregular geometric shapes. • Mámoas. Megalithic Neolithic (3rd and 4th millennia BC). In the area called A Seara up to ten mámoas found in a roughly North-South orientation. DatedThe Bronze Age (2nd millennium BC) Description What is a petroglyph? A petroglyph is any shape or form made on a stone or rock. Their function is thought to have been ritual and symbolic. However, even in the Bronze Age the practice of farming were already widespread, hence we believe that they were used for important rituals in the life cycles of the people or year. Their use and symbolism is not absolutely known, but there was almost certainly a magical significance connected to the territory, animals and even to people; and were perhaps used in initiation rituals or hunting. What is a “mámoa”? Considered to be a burial chamber […]

Location. Monte Medo. Parish of San Xoán de Vide Monument type. Religious. Interest: Architectural, historical-artistic, ethnographical and landscape. DatedCurrent structure built between: 1731-1768. Previous religious constructions: 9th and 15th centuries. Description. “Monte Medo” (Mount High) is situated in the middle of a plain at the foot of the Sierra de San Mamede. The sanctuary is in the Baroque and Neoclassical styles, surrounded by a wall which offers four doors to access the enclosure. The façade resembles a giant stone altarpiece. Built seven years prior, but in a similar style to the façade of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in the Obradoiro square, with its altar and balcony designed with large crowds in the square in mind. Outside we find seven stone chapels of Via Crucis equidistant from each other. At the back of the complex, we find “A Carballa dos Milagres” (The Miracle Oak) with the “Fonte da Virxe” (Fountain of the Virgin). It is believed to be the the first hermitage dedicated to Santa or the Virgin, dating from the 9th century. From the back access door of the site, we encounter the remains of the former temple lantern, also Baroque, from the 17th century. Continuing towards the […]

Location. Parish of San Salvador de Baños de Molgas. Monument type. Thermal fountain. Interest: Historical, architectural value, ethnographic and spa tourism. DatedModern Era. 19th Century DescriptionA Burga de Baños de Molgas is a hot spring fountain. The Romans were the first to build baths for recreation and enjoyment of these waters, which they named “Ad aquas salientes” (salted waters). Its waters gush out at temperatures between 28 and 45 degrees. The water is particularly suitable for the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and gout. The current fountain, built in granite ashlar in 1896, has a triangular wall and situated at a very low height, a barrel, from where the water falls into a sink. There are two large stone basins protected by a metal shelter with a glass roof, which allows visitors to take the waters in any weather conditions, and provides two convenient places in which to wash. The fountain is located between the Balneario de Molgas spa and the “Ponte vella” (Old Bridge), alongside the river Arnoia. Cataloging. Inventory of Heritage Assets of the Government of Galicia.

Location. Parish of San Salvador de Baños de Molgas. Monument type. Private property and business. Dated. 19th Century. Description. The properties of the thermal waters of Molgas have been known since the time of Romanisation. In all discussions of mineral waters of the modern age, the town of Baños de Molgas figures as one of the most well known in Spain. Its sources and springs were declared public utilities in 1873, which led to the construction of the Spa at the end of the 19th century. It was remodelled in the 20th century, adapting to new needs and uses. Four-story building made of granite stonework. Inside the building the main spring is known as the “Fonte Quente” (hot fountain). The waters of the spa are of the radioactive type; with sodium bicarbonate, silicate, and mineralized, and the water temperature is 49° C. The services offered by the Spa Baths of Molgas are: Aerosols, whirlpool baths, showers, nasal showers and circular showers. Cataloging. Inventory of Heritage Assets of the Government of Galicia.

Location. Parish of San Salvador de Baños de Molgas Monument type. Road infrastructure. Interest: Architectural and historical. Dated. Roman age, 2nd century AD. Description. The “Ponte Vella de Molgas” (Old bridge of Molgas) is possibly a Roman construction from the 2nd century. It was part of the road called the “Vía Nova XVIII” that crossed the river Arnoia at this point. This “roman road” was ordered build by the Emperor Titus Flavius in the first century AD. In the The Itinerary of Emperor Antoninus (the register of roman stations and roads) Baños de Molgas is mentioned as “Salientibus”, wich the book identifies as a post administration called “cursus publicus”. This could prove the relevance of Baños de Molgas as a crossroads for the infraestructure ofd the Roman Empire. It has a single arch 10.76 metres long with a circular flared vault. The foundations of the central arch are what remains of the original Roman structure, which was restored in both the 14th and 20th centuries. Cataloging. Inventory of Heritage Assets of the Government of Galicia.

Location. Betán. Parish of San Martiño de Betán. Type of monument. Church of Romanesque origins. Interest: architectural and artistic, ethnographical and historical. Dated. High Middle Ages. Beginning of the 13th century. Description. Romanesque church from the beginning of the 13th century, reformed in the 18th century in the Baroque style. Rectangular ground plan with well crafted walls of granite and buttresses on the sides. Outside we find corbels in the lateral cornices. The main façade features arched cornice and is finished with pinnacles in the corners, on top of which is a steeple with a body finishing in a pyramid crowned by a stone cross. There is an access door with an arch and front with a Romanesque lintel, stone carved with a cross. The Romanesque elements we can observe are: the lintel in the entrance, the fifteen corbels of the eaves and also what you see in the window at the end of the belfry. Inside the lintel we see a cross pattée that divides the space into four parts, each dedicated to an animal. Cataloging. Inventory of Heritage Assets of the Government of Galicia.

They are placed in a prairie between Bouzas and Presqueira, two villages of Baños de Molgas. The petroglyphs have a concentric and snake-like shape. On the rock where most of them are found, we can see a crossroad with the Agony’s Angel and crucified Christ. A few metres away, there is a small baroque chapel from the 18th century. It is thought that all of them must have made this place sacred. On the other side of the road, around 50 metres away, we find another two concentric circles. It is thought that there may be more in these area but they extracted rock from here to build the sanctuary of Os Milagros on the 18th century. They are in bad conditions because they don’t have any kind of protection against natural events or wear caused by humans.

Location. Santa Eufemia de Ambía. Parish of Santo Estevo de Ambía. Type of monument. High middle Ages Chapel. Interest: Architectural, artistic, historical and ethnographical. Dated. 9th century. Beginning of the High Medieval Period. Description. Pre-Romanesque style chapel from the 9th century with Mozarabic influences. Chronologically linked to two other chapels of the same style in the Province of Ourense: Santa Comba (village of Bande) and San Miguel (in the grounds of the current Monastery of San Rosendo in Celanova). Such a concentration of architectural heritage can be found in few places in the Iberian Peninsula. The chapel dates back to the beginning of the European Middle Ages, with peninsular peculiarities of style and influences of the Mozarabic culture. The floor plan is of a single nave with a rectangular apse. Three windows with two horseshoe arches are preserved, corresponding with the three inner chapels that were divided in the original nave, preserved at the base of the arches they formed. Inside are one altar stone with Roman origins (Roman Empire) and a crucified Christ wood-engraving of Medieval-Romanesque origins. Next to Santa Eufemia, from the time of Romanisation, is located a fountain called the “Fonte das Ninfas” (The Nymph Fountain) from […]