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Church · Melide, Galicia
Igrexa de Santa María de Melide
Romanesque church from the 12th century at the exit of Melide on the Caminho Francês, with an arched portal, a stone altar and remnants of Gothic mural paintings in the apse.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Igrexa de Santa María de Melide
The church of Santa María de Melide sits at the edge of the village for those following the Caminho Francês towards Arzúa, in a small churchyard surrounded by trees and stone houses. It is a 12th-century Romanesque church, one of the best preserved on the final stretch of the Camino.
The building is simple: a single nave and a semicircular apse, with granite walls and carved corbels under the roof. The main portal has semicircular arches supported on columns with decorated capitals, and there is a side door, also Romanesque.
Inside, the apse houses a stone altar and remnants of Gothic mural paintings, with figures and religious scenes in faded colours, showing how rural Galician churches were decorated at the end of the Middle Ages.
The church is usually open to pilgrims at certain times, and many stop there to get their credential stamped.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
15 to 20 minutes.
Best time
In the morning, when pilgrims pass through and the church is usually open; check before you go.
How to get there
It is located at the exit of Melide on the Caminho Francês, about 1 km from the centre — roughly a 15-minute walk.
Tip
Take a close look at the apse paintings: they are rare surviving examples of Gothic painting in a rural Camino church.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Igrexa de Santa María de Melide
From what period is the church of Santa María de Melide?
From the 12th century, in Romanesque style.
What is there to see inside the church?
The stone altar and the remains of Gothic mural paintings in the apse.
Is the church on the Caminho de Santiago?
Yes, at the exit of Melide along the Caminho Francês, heading toward Arzúa.