Curch of Saint Stephen of Ribas de Miño | © Deputación de Lugo

CHURCH OF SAINT STEPHEN OF RIBAS DE MIÑO – O SAVIÑAO

INTRODUCTION

The most outstanding of the current building is its adaptation to the land. It was necessary to reduce the slope, as well as to build a crypt to hold the base of the temple. It was a new solution presented by Master Mateo in Galicia with the crypt of the Cathedral of Santiago. No doubt there are many elements that lead us to the art of Master Mateo in this church.

HISTORY

The oldest document preserved from the monastery dates from 976, when it was donated to the nearby monastery of San Paio de Diomondi. The church was built in the last third of the 12th century, and it is linked to the work of Master Mateo. It was declared a National Artistic Monument in June 1931.

ARCHITECTURE AND FURNITURE

The church is only one nave, walls made of granite blocks with outside buttress and gabled tile roof. The apse is semicircular with a semidome and it has before a straight part with barrel vault with ribs. This church needs to be emphasised due to its size and its facade with splayed door with four archivolts which are richly decorated; the little one has seven seated figures with instruments. It is framed between the discharging arches with door shapes, and also under an eave with blind arches. We need to mention here a rose window with nearly four metres in diameter. Outside we can also see different corbels, the loopholes of the nave and the apse and also the apsidal eaves decorated with a lombard band. Archivolts, capitals, shafts and jambs lead us back to Portomarín. It highlights the choice of marble for the shafts of the columns and noble elements as opposed to granite from the rest of the building. In the outer archivolt, at the three openings “grapes” or “pineapples” are represented, according to various theories. In the central opening there are plenty of archivolts decorated with vegetable motifs that may refer to forms of the flora in the area. But it highlights the inner archivolt with decoration of figures following the model of the Pórtico de la Gloria, evoking the heavenly orchestra since some carry musical instruments. One of them carries a Sun and another one a moon as a reference to the world. Inside there is a sculpture set of medieval origin wich represents Epiphany: the three wise men and a polychromed seated virgin with a child. This Epiphany comes from the recovery of several pieces found on the occasion of recent restorations. On the one hand, there are the Magi, who had been reused as flooring of the church. And the figure seated of the Virgin found in the atrium in the decade of the 1940s. The Virgin is holding the child in her lap while holding a sort of mallet topped in an artichoke in her right hand. He turns to receive the gift offered by the first of the Magi, who kneel down takes his hand to his head to remove the crown as a sign of submission and respect. The other two standing wait their turn and it is incredible the similarity that show with the Magi on the cover of the Corticela, in the Cathedral of Santiago. The image of the Virgin keeps traces of polychromy that in the case of the Magi has been lost. We can also admire a beautiful and original Romanesque baptismal font with very peculiar geometric decorations. Outside, a curious bell tower on a rock stands out, though it is without a doubt the result of subsequent reforms.

OPENING HOURS

Visits on request accompanied by the local guides of Máis que Románico.
Email: info@maisqueromanicorutas.com
Phone: +34 646 533 229 or https://turismo.ribeirasacra.org/en/news/romanesque-routes-2020

CONTACT

Object:
Santo Estevo de Ribas de Miño
27594 O Saviñao
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 on request accompanied by the local guides of Máis que Románico.
Email: info@maisqueromanicorutas.com
Phone: +34 646 533 229 or https://turismo.ribeirasacra.org/en/news/romanesque-routes-2020

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