Visit Celanova, Province of Ourense. The Alcázar of Milmanda, Church of San Salvador and the Sanctuary of A Armada in Rabal.

Today, we are in Celanova a municipality situated to the south of the Province of Ourense inland Galicia. It is near to the neighbouring country of Portugal. Celanova is of about 6000 inhabitants and is divided into 18 parishes. As we have mentioned the division into parishes remains in Galicia and it is very important. They are civil parishes and are of ecclesiastical origin.

We will visit Santa María de Milmanda parish and the Alcázar (fortress or castle). We also will see the parish church of San Salvador and A Armada Sanctuary in Rabal. Rabal is another parish of Celanova.

Parish church of San Salvador de Rabal.




At the top of a hill surrounded by the river Tuño the Alcázar de Milmanda was built. Apparently there was Roman remains, a citadel. We do not know the exact date of construction but its existence is documented in the tenth century as belonging to the Monastery of Celanova. It was also documented in writing the fact that the King Alfonso IX was there en 1213.

The church was built in 1776 over the remains of the Alcázar. We highlight one of the towers of the fortress which remains today as a part of the church. A little steeple was built on the tower.

The cemetery surrounds the church.

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This is the tower of the fortress that is the only one which remains today. We can see the little steeple on the tower.

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This is the parish church of Santa Eufemia de Milmanda. It is seen from the Alcázar. It is near, right here: 42.135390, -8.025208

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Sanctuary of A Armada is a small church which was built in the eighteenth century. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary worship as others in the region. On 9 September there is a romería to commemorate the appearance of Nuestra Señora in 1560.

In Spain romerías are annual religious pilgrimages to chapels and shrines associated with particular saints or miracles of the Virgin. The pilgrims, called romeros, make their way on foot to the particular holy site, often covering long distances, and make offerings before gathering for a picnic. (www.collinsdictionary.com).

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The Parish Church of San Salvador de Rabal. It was built in the nineteenth century.

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