AMONG STONE, TIME AND CURIOSITY:

Architecture, history, and life

Some places have the power to stop us in our tracks. Not by chance, many of them are former monasteries. Remote spaces, surrounded by silence, stone, and time. Galicia is full of such places that still retain some of their essence, even if the passage of centuries has left visible marks on their walls.

Monasteries have always fascinated me, even without any special interest in their religious side. What captures me is their architecture, their location, the way they integrate into the landscape — and above all, the idea of how life must have been there centuries ago. Perhaps this interest was sparked by the novel —and film— The Name of the Rose, which left a strong impression on me and still does. There's something hypnotic about that enclosed world, isolated, ruled by routine, seemingly frozen in time, hidden among the stones.

Monastery of Santa María de Melón (Ourense)

Monastery of Santa María de Xunqueira de Espadañedo (Ourense)

Cloister of the Monastery of Oseira

Among Galicia’s monasteries are true hidden gems that deserve a place in our collective imagination. Some, fortunately, are still in use or have been restored. Others struggle to withstand the passage of time and the elements. In any case, all of them belong to a heritage that speaks not only of architecture, but also of history, spirituality, art – and life itself. 

A journey through unique places

Known as “the Galician Escorial”, it is one of the most spectacular monasteries in Galicia. Founded in the 12th century and once inhabited by the Cistercians, it stands out for its grandeur and the sobriety of its architecture. Its cloister, church, and interior staircases form a space of striking visual impact, inviting silence and contemplation.

Oseira: Façade of the monastery church

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to photograph other monasteries such as Armenteira, Monfero, Montederramo, San Clodio de Leiro, San Estevo de Ribas de Sil, San Facundo de Ribas de Miño, San Paio de Abeleda, San Pedro de Rocas, Santa Cristina de Ribas de Sil, Santa María de Meira, Sobrado dos Monxes, Santa María de Melón, Santa María de Ferreira de Pallares, Trandeiras, and Xunqueira de Espadañedo.

Monastery of San Estevo de Ribas de Sil (Ourense)

Monastery of Sobrado dos Monxes (A Coruña).

Monastery of San Clodio de Leiro (Ourense

Monastery of Santa María de Montederramo (Ourense)

Some of them are still active, while others lie in ruins or have been partially restored. In any case, each one has allowed me to look, frame, and better understand not only its forms, but its relationship with the surrounding landscape. Some rise proudly on hilltops, overlooking valleys. Others hide in damp, secluded spots, as if trying to remain unnoticed. In all of them, light plays a key role — filtering through cloister arches, slipping quietly through half-open doors, or brushing against time-worn stone.

San Facundo de Ribas de Miño (Lugo).

Monastery of Santa María de Armenteira (Meis, Pontevedra)

Monastery of Santa María de Meira (Lugo)

Looking with intention

Monastery of Santa María de Monfero (A Coruña)

Cloister of the Monastery of Santa María de Ferreira de Pallares (Lugo)

Remains of the monastery of San Paio de Abeleda (Ourense)

Main façade of the church of the Buen Jesús de Trandeiras Monastery (Ourense)

That’s why I enjoy returning to them. Because they invite a slower gaze. And because, in a way, they also invite imagination...

Photos: ©Juan Carlos Asorey

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