Ribas de Sil brings together the river landscape of the Canón do Sil, a variety of trails, historic structures and traces of gold mining. At A Cubela, the Sil describes a meander of almost 180 degrees; the Ruta da Cubela leads there. The landscape along the canyon also presents contrasts: sun-facing slopes have Mediterranean vegetation and landscapes, while shaded slopes are Atlantic in character. The Canón do Sil forms a natural boundary between the provinces of Lugo and Ourense; Ribas de Sil lies on its Lucense side.
Trails along the Sil and traces of gold mining
The PR-G 180 Ruta da Cubela is an almost 14-kilometre circular route. About half of it runs close to the Sil, while the other half passes through higher areas with native forests and meadows. This brings sections close to the river and higher-elevation landscapes together on the same circuit. The Camiño de Inverno follows a different type of route: its 14.6-kilometre stage runs from Quiroga through San Clodio to A Cubela and passes almost entirely through Ribas del Sil.
Gold mining gives the other trails a distinct historical focus. The eight-kilometre Ruta do Ouro offers views of millennia-old remains in Peites, Figueiredo and Piñeira; it can be travelled by bus. A 4.5-kilometre walking trail runs through the Complejo Arqueológico de Covallón, linking four Roman gold-mining sites in Ribas del Sil. When choosing, you can compare different options: a circular route with stretches near the Sil and higher forest and meadow areas, a stage between named places, or trails focused on traces of gold mining.
Romanesque architecture and the history of a bridge
The Igrexa de Santa María de Torbeo belongs to the late Romanesque period and may have been built towards the end of the 13th century. The church, a tower and the entrance portal survive from the Abbey of San Clodio, founded about a thousand years ago. Together, these buildings offer different points of reference for the history of religious architecture in Ribas del Sil: the church at Torbeo is notable for its stylistic classification, while the surviving parts of the abbey are specified.
A Ponte de Ferro tells a different story of construction. It was completed in 1883. Two stone arches support its two metal bridge girders, which are 78 and 18 metres long. The date and measurements provide a specific point of reference for the bridge and distinguish it from the area’s much older structures.
By the water and in town
The Playa fluvial de San Clodio has a large bathing area and an amphitheatre where sociocultural activities take place throughout the year. It also has outdoor sports facilities for football, basketball and table tennis, as well as a motorhome parking area. This riverside spot thus combines swimming and leisure facilities with space for events. If you are weighing up different themes for your trip, the river landscape and the archaeological or architectural sites offer distinct points of interest.
There is also a well-known local food tradition: a bakery in Ribas del Sil continues to make bread and empanadas in a wood-fired oven. Along with the trails, buildings and traces of gold mining, this gives the area a character that is not limited to a single attraction, but appeals to a range of different interests.
Discover more destinations: Mera, Sober, Reigosa, Pacios, Chantada, Casacamiño, Becerreá, Bolmente.
Back to the regional travel overview: Lugo.
