In the heart of Galicia, beneath the rugged slopes of Monte Barbeirón, lies the ancient Monastery of San Pedro de Rocas. To call it ancient is no exaggeration: it is the oldest monastic complex in Galicia – and one of the earliest in Spain. The history of the monastery dates back to at least the 6th century, an era when Christian hermits first began to carve out a spiritual existence in the remote corners of the Iberian Peninsula – then deemed, literally, the end of the world: Finisterre.
San Pedro de Rocas can be said to be a testament to the endurance of faith and the human spirit. The site is famous for its rock chapels, laboriously carved into the hillside. These man-made caves, which served as chapels and shelters, remain largely intact and offer a rare glimpse into early Christian European practices. The very stones of San Pedro de Rocas seem to whisper the prayers of centuries past.
Declared a National Historic Monument in 1923, the monastery’s importance has only grown over time. In 1999, it was recognized as a Spanish Cultural Heritage Site, and in 2018, both the monastery and the surrounding 100 hectares were declared a Cultural Landscape of Interest. Today, although the monastery is no longer active as a place of worship, it is one of the main attractions in the Ribeira Sacra region, offering a unique combination of history, spirituality and natural beauty.
The origins of San Pedro de Rocas are shrouded in legend. An inscription found on a stone tablet in the monastery, dating back to 573, suggests that the site was inhabited by a small group of Christians, possibly followers of St. Martin of Braga, a key figure in the evangelization of Galicia during the Suevian kingdom. The monastery’s eremitic origins reflect the early Christian tradition of solitary prayer, which gradually evolved into a communal monastic life.
Over the centuries, San Pedro de Rocas has faced many challenges, including raids by Muslim invaders in the 8th century and devastating fires in the 11th and 17th centuries. Despite these hardships, the monastery was rebuilt and restored, showing both the resilience of the monastic community and the enduring importance of the site.
Today, visitors can explore the ancient chapels, now part of a museum and interpretation center dedicated to the monastic life of the Ribeira Sacra. The journey to San Pedro de Rocas is a pilgrimage to the very roots of Spanish Christianity.
