I was still on ‘go-slow’ and so wandering in Ribadeo was somewhat limited – a short walk in the morning, and another very short outing in the afternoon. During our first visit I explored much more thoroughly!
Read more: Wandering in RibadeoIn the town
It was just a short walk into the town centre from the Parador, but I couldn’t do more on the first day. On one side of the Plaza Espana this building might say ‘Aduana’ but it is the tourist office.
The City Council of Ribadeo meets in the splendid building, the Pazo de Ibanez, which was the town mansion of the Marques de Sargadelos. “Raymond Ibanez, Marquis of Sargadelos (1749-1809), was a merchant and industrialist of his time, especially known for devising and founding the Sargadelos ceramic factory, model of the first industrial capitalism in Spain.”1 A statue of the Marquis stands on the steps of his mansion, facing the main square, the Plaza Espana, in Ribadeo.
The main square is open, green, and very pleasant, and there are more photographs from our previous visit.
This was new! Ribadeo was apparently enclosed by walls in the Middle Ages and these markings on the pavement were on the line of the walls. Nothing else remains.
And like every self-respecting town there was a Mercado de Abastos – an indoor market. It is apparently busiest on a Sunday, and so was relatively quiet when we looked in.
The Convent of Santa Clara
The Convent started as a community of lay women, perhaps with some nuns, in the 11th century, and was converted to a Convent in the 14th century. There is an 18th century cloister which is not open to the public. During the French invasion the nuns were expelled and the buildings had several other purposes; it was also threatened during the Mendizabal years. At some point the nuns returned.
The Convent stands on a busy road, close to the main square, and yet it is a closed order. It must seem curious to be closed away from things you can hear, but not necessarily see. And yet, as we sat quietly in the church, the world outside seemed to disappear – we could ‘feel’ the silence, and it was a good feeling.
The Parador of Ribadeo
The Parador of Ribadeo is a modern building overlooking the River Eo and its estuary – the views are superb and the Parador itself very comfortable. Our stay was most enjoyable and we thoroughly recommend this Parador, together with all the others where we stayed.
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