INTRODUCTION
Saint Mary of Torbeo was built in a late Romanesque style. Nowadays, it is considered one of the best preserved examples of rural Romanesque style en Galicia. To reach, we leave from the town hall of Ribas de Sil, located in the main square. We have to take the N-120 road towards Monforte de Lemos. Arriving at Rairos, we turn left. We go on this road until we reach Torbeo. It will take us half an hour approximately.
HISTORY
Saint Mary of Torbeo is a Romanesque church from the 13th century. The place names of the area and some documents that are kept revealed it could belong to the missing Benedictine monastery of San Pedro de Torbeo, where Pérez Vasco de Quiroga is buried.
ARCHITECTURE AND FURNITURE
The temple preserves its original floor plan with some modifications, such as the 16th century sacristy and the two 17th century side chapels. The walls are built of granite ashlar and the floor is paved. On the Romanesque structure, the triumphal arch with very pointed double archivolt, exterior bead moulding, following by scotia with balls and, profiling the ensemble, a chequered mould stand out, while the interior has a rectangular cross-section with square edges. The lower arch rests on capitals with figurative decoration. On the right you can see two rampant lions face to face and in the centre, Christ within a mandorla. On the left, there are two lions with a bush in the middle. The apse has a straight section with a semicircular head and is covered by a ribbed vault and semi-vault, respectively. Interesting is the baptismal font of the 12th century, made in granite. It has 120 cm in diameter and weighs about 800 kg. It is one of the few examples of immersion piles kept in Galicia. It is decorated with geometrical motifs and a salmon, since it has four fins. It may symbolize the resurrection, since salmon ascends rivers to leave offspring before they die. It has an inscription in Latin that means “without stain of original sin”.
OPENING HOURS
Visits are only allowed outside the monument.
A permit from the Bishopric is required to visit the interior of the church.
CONTACT
Object:
Carballiño
327317 Ribas de Sil
Lugo, Galicia, Spain
Institution:
DIPUTACIÓN PROVINCIAL DE LUGO
Servicio de Turismo
San Marcos, 8
27001 Lugo
Galicia, Spain
Phone: +34 982 260 120
Email: turismo@deputacionlugo.org
ENTRANCE FEES & GUIDED TOURS
Visits are only allowed outside the monument.
A permit from the Bishopric is required to visit the interior of the church.
TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE
RIBEIRA SACRA CONSORCIO DE TURISMO
Estrada de Viñoás, 3
32160 Nogueira de Ramuín
Ourense, Galicia, Spain
Phone: +34 638823592
Email: turismo@ribeirasacra.org