Monforte

Feudal City

❡ Monforte, capital of the Ribeira Sacra and railway junction of the industrial development of the Iberian Peninsula. The monumental complex of San Vicente de O Pino with the imposing Torre del Homenaje,the Colegio de Nuestra Señora, known as the Galician El Escorial, or the old Jewish quarter in the old town are some of the reasons why it was named the most beautiful town in Spain in 2015.

Program of the day

ACTIVITIES

MORNING

star icon Leaving Ponferrada

Today we will travel directly with our guide to the municipality of Arganza, where we will visit the incredible complex of the Palacio de Canedo, a monument listed as an Asset of Cultural Interest. (BIC).

Since its construction three centuries ago, it has been home to a vast expanse of vineyards that have been carefully tended by 25 generations of winegrowers who have organically harvested some of the best Godello and Mencía wines in the country. We will make a complete visit to the palace, the vineyards and the winery, where we will also have a magnificent tasting of their best products and we will learn about the artisan production process of their prestigious preserves.

MIDDAY

star icon Tasting menu

A unique enclave such as the one offered by the Palace must be enjoyed to the maximum, which is why we will have lunch in its restaurant.

We will discover a carefully selected traditional cuisine, with seasonal and local organic products, prepared in an innovative way to get to know the local gastronomy first hand. For some reputed voices, including winners of the National Gastronomy Award, the dining room of the Palace offers the best views in the world over an unrivalled natural setting.

AFTERNOON

star icon Arrival in Monforte and visit to the Wine Museum

After lunch we will head towards Monforte. During the transfer we will skirt the Natural Monument and Cultural Space of Las Médulas, an ancient Roman mining site declared a World Heritage Site in 1997. We will also pass through the region of Valdeorras, a region known internationally for its D.O. (Denomination of Origin) with high quality wines, especially Godello.

On our arrival in Monforte we will visit the Ribeira Sacra Wine Museum, where we will learn in great depth about the culture of wine since its arrival in this region thanks to the Romans, and we will understand the main signs of identity that differentiate Ribeira Sacra as one of the most unique wine regions internationally, such as its ancient terraces built on slopes that reach up to 95% verticality and give name to the famous heroic viticulture, so called because of the difficulty of working and harvesting in these circumstances.

NIGHT

star icon Rest

At the top of the hill stands the Monumental Complex of San Vicente de O Pino, made up of the 17th century Benedictine Monastery, the Homage Tower and the Palace of the Counts of Lemos. The old rooms of the Palace now house a large part of the Parador de Monforte de Lemos, an imposing neoclassical standard that beats in the heart of the Ribeira Sacra.

We will stay at the Parador, which arranges its rooms around the majestic neoclassical cloister of the old monastery, offering comfort, design and a wide range of services, as well as privileged views from the heights. To round off the enjoyment, the hotel also has a jacuzzi and an impressive outdoor swimming pool which, like the rooms, offers dreamy views of the Ribeira Sacra as it is spread out over the hill.