Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil
Located in Nogueira de Ramuín (Ourense), San Estevo de Ribas de Sil is closely tied to its imposing monastery sharing the same name. The origin of the non-ecclesiastical population likely arose to serve the basic needs of this important religious institution. However, human presence in this area dates back at least to the Iron Age, as indicated by the existence of a nearby hillfort (castro). The current population likely stems from the restoration of the monastery in AD 921.
In addition to the Monastery of Santo Estevo - currently converted into a Parador Nacional (historic luxury hotel) - the village houses other points of historical interest. The church, built perpendicular to the monastery façade in the late 12th century, is in the Romanesque style and contains an altarpiece from the same period. Also built around the monastery, though not sharing walls, are the House of the Counts of Gustavalle, the Doctor's House and the House of the Audience. The so-called 'Big Houses' (Casas Grandes) are Early Modern buildings constructed between the 15th and 18th centuries, demonstrating the importance this place held in the past.
In the 19th century, many inhabitants of the municipality were forced to pursue itinerant trades to support their families. They travelled from town to town offering their services as knife sharpeners (afiadores), umbrella repairers, woodcutters, wafer sellers (barquilleros), tinsmiths, gold and silver merchants, haberdashers, ropemakers and gelders (capadores). With industrialisation, these trades became obsolete and vanished during the late 20th century. Today, however, these professions form part of the area's identity, and several statues have been erected in their honour.
The most notable local festivity is San Roque, celebrated with great enthusiasm on 16 and 17 August.