Why Travel To Ribadavia (Ribeiro)?
Ribadavia is a historic wine country town, the capital of the Ribeiro wine region which is located in the province of Ourense, Galicia, Spain. The Ribeiro wine region is formed by the municipalities of Arnoia, Castrelo de Miño, Leiro and Cenlle, small villages that live from making the delicious Ribeiro wines. The urban area of Ribadavia is located on the right bank of the river Miño, and the last course of the river Avia, the origin of the name of this town comes from this river “Riba da Avia “, meaning on top of the river Avia. Ribadavia is only 25 kilometres from the city of Ourense and 80 kilometres from Vigo.
Historic Wine Town with Jewish Influence amongst the Vineyards
Ribadavia village was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1947. Here you can visit the ruins of the Castle of the Sarmientos and the Counts of Ribadavia, which dates back to the fifteenth-century. It still preserves parts of the walls that surrounded the whole wine town. In the old quarter, we can find the main square (Praza Maior) with interesting buildings like the sixteenth-century town hall.
Ribadavia is not only important for its wine, but also linked to the presence of Jewish Heritage. Here there are buildings that remain from what was once a "Juderia" Jewish quarter with a medieval look. You can visit the Jewish museum, a medieval synagogue, a kosher wine shop and there are two Jewish bakeries. In fact, Ribadavia is included in the Sepharad Routes of Spain for its well preserved Jewish quarter in Galicia. The Network of Spanish Jewish and Hebrew Sites was founded in 1995 with 15 member cities in Spain: Avila, Barcelona, Caceres, Cordoba, Girona Hervas, Jaen, Leon, Oviedo, Palma de Mallorca, Ribadavia, Segovia, Toledo, Tortosa, and Tudela. In addition to six other associates members, whcih are; Besalú, Calahorra, Estella-Lizarra, Monforte de Lemo,s Plasencia, and Tarragona.
Other Recommended places to visit while you staying are in Ribadavia…
- Santo Domingo Convent: One of the oldest convents of the Galician Order, a beautiful church in Gothic style built in the thirteenth-century, worth visiting while you are wandering around Ribadavia.
- Church of San Ginés de Francelos: A small church that belonged to an old medieval monastery. It was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1985. A must-see for lovers of medieval architecture.
- Hot Springs of Prexigueiro (Termas de Prexigueiro): These hot springs located 6 km from the town of Ribadavia, in a natural surrounding, popular for the numerous therapeutic properties they possess, capable of treating muscular problems, stress, among many other health conditions.
- Ribadavia Ethnology Museum: Located in the heart of the old town in a country manor house known as “Pazo de Baamonde“. This museum has a collection of important ethnographic materials found in the area, such as; ceramics, traditional textiles, and objects representing the ancestral trades in the province of Ourense. A great way to learn from the culture and society of this land.
Discover the Wines of the Oldest Denomination of Origin in Galicia: Ribeiro
Get acquainted with the Ribeiro D.O., a spectacular Galician wine region, in fact, it is the oldest Appellation of Origin in Galicia, making some of the finest wines in Spain. The Ribeiro wine region has been cultivated for over a thousand-years with Torrontés, Loureira, Godello, Albariño and Treixadura grapes, this last variety stands out as the favourite of Ribeiro.
All the economic life of the O Ribeiro region has been based since the twelfth century, on the cultivation of vines, which were first brought by the monks of Cluny who accompanied the first count of Galicia, Raymond of Burgundy. Today, the wine is commercialized as Denominación de Orixe Ribeiro. (Ribeiro Denomination of Origin).
Our wine travel experts have selected the best tour operators offering tours & experiences with wine, food, and walking holidays in Ribadavia (Ribeiro). You can check our list of the best wine tours in Ribeiro and recommended wine country rural hotels in the sections of this Ribadavia travel destination guide.
Population: 5.028 (2018)