Monastery of San Salvador in Lourenzá

The fertile land of Lourenzá, known in Galicia for its famous faba, is defined by the River Masma which runs through it. It is the first large valley that pilgrims on the Camino del Norte come across when arriving in Galicia.

This noble Galician who went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land was revered as a saint upon his death, giving rise to regional pilgrimages to visit his grave. According to legend, he was buried in a sarcophagus carried on his pilgrimage which still exists today.

Visiting Lourenzá means learning about one of the largest collections of sacred art on the Caminos de Santiago in Galicia. Take, as an example, this spectacular altarpiece found in the vestry, made of stone and polychrome wood by Francisco de Andrade.

Part of the old monastic library has also been preserved, and still houses 4,000 books. Among them are prints from the 16th century, alongside an interesting collection of liturgical goldsmith pieces.

However, the great jewel of Lourenzá and one of the most spectacular monuments on the Camino del Norte is, without a doubt, its church. It was started by architect and monk Juan Vázquez de Samos in 1735 and would be finished by Fernando de Casas y Novoa, architect of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.

In just a few places, like this temple, we can revel in the roundness and strength of the Galician Baroque style in the granite stonework worked by Fernando de Casas y Novoa. Certainly the best example of this is the solemn dome, with huge dimensions that are austere yet imposing.

The church facade is effectively a precursor to the Obradoiro facade which Fernando de Casas y Novoa implemented in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. The same style but on an even smaller scale can be relished in this front face—a taste of what to expect upon our arrival in Santiago de Compostela.

When leaving Lourenzá, we do so with the aroma of Mariña Lucense still lingering, but with a hint of the Compostelan flavor in its architecture. It is a legendary monastery for leading us on our way to Santiago de Compostela.