There is an idyllic town in Galicia full of historic gardens, ancient stone buildings and a 900-year-old Cistercian monastery. All surrounded by a beautiful rural environment. It is called Oseira and has just been added to the Most Beautiful Towns in Spain. It was late, because it is simply beautiful.
Oseira belongs to the Council of Cea and is on everyone's lips for its majestic Monastery of Santa María. This monumental complex from the 12th and 16th centuries stands out for its architectural sobriety, which many compare with El Escorial. No wonder: it preserves its original Romanesque church and has restored the rest impeccably, after a fire in 1551.
Although the entire monastery is beautiful, some of its corners stand out with unparalleled beauty. The most important is the Palm Room, a space full of columns and twisted cross vaults with organic shapes. Also worth visiting are its two imposing towers, inspired by the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela itself.
Beyond the monastery, Oseira is the perfect getaway for those seeking calm and disconnection. Next to it there is a small, calm and silent urban center, with charming stone houses, few neighbors and a historic center that blends harmoniously into the surrounding valleys and mountains.
Not in vain, Oseira is part of the Silver route of the Camino de Santiago and has easy and beautiful hiking routes, such as the Oseira River route, which crosses small waterfalls, old mills and ancient forests. If you want to return to the Galicia of yesteryear, this town is the perfect place to do so.
