Exploring history in London & abroad with my camera
I had read of several interesting Romanesque Monasteries and Churches near Chantada, a town which is north of Monforte de Lemos and on the far side of the Minho River. We set off to see what we could find and although the skies were overcast it was not cold and it promised to be an…
Read More "Romanesque Monasteries and Churches near Chantada"
Monforte de Lemos is situated in an area called the Ribeira Sacra which is noted for its rich collection of Romanesque Churches. We came here partly to see some of the churches, and partly to see the two rivers which bound the area - the Sil and the Minho. I loved the Romanesque Churches we…
The Mediaeval town of Monforte de Lemos is a fascinating and little-known small town near the border of Galicia and Leon in western Spain.
The Camino de Santiago by road from Villafranca del Bierzo to Monforte de Lemos
Read More "The Camino de Santiago from Villafranca to Monforte"
Villafranca del Bierzo, on the Camino de Santiago, is a wonderfully peaceful little town in the hills in the East of Léon in Northern Spain. If you only have two days in the town then do see these sights. The Church of Santiago is where the Camino enters the town on the way to Santiago. And…
The Baroque Collegiate Church of Santa Maria in Villafranca
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Villafranca del Bierzo was founded in the 11C by French monks who belonged to the order of Cluny, establishing a Monastery where they could care for pilgrims who were walking the Camino de Santiago. Judging by the grand palaces in the Calle del Agua the town was also very prosperous and significant at one point…
Read More "The Camino de Santiago in Villafranca del Bierzo"
Las Médulas is a spectacular landscape about half an hour south of Villafranca del Bierzo, created when the Romans mined for gold, and now a World Heritage Site. The local population had already found the gold, but intensive open-cast mining started in c.25BC and this became the most significant gold mine in the Roman Empire.…
We settled into the Parador at Villafranca del Bierzo for three nights and it was a wonderful stop - comfortable, quiet, friendly and with excellent food - highly recommended if you are travelling in the area. There are many historic sights in the town but I also enjoyed the river and gardens in Villafranca. The…
We stopped for a few hours only, just enough time for a coffee and a walk around Astorga, on the road from Léon to Villafranca de Bierzo. Astorga, the old Asturica Augustea, was established as a Roman city and two important roads cross here - the Ruta de la Plata and the Camino de Santiago.…
