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Monastery · Sarria, Galicia
Mosteiro de Samos
Benedictine monastery founded in the 6th century, one of the oldest in Spain, 12 km from Sarria, with two cloisters, a Baroque church and a pilgrims' guesthouse.
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 Mosteiro de Samos
The monastery of San Xulián de Samos lies at the bottom of a green valley, on the banks of the Sarria river, about 12 km from the town, on one of the two variants of the Camino Francés between Triacastela and Sarria. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Spain: its foundation is attributed to São Martinho de Dume in the 6th century, and an inscription from the year 665 records a reconstruction. Since the 10th century it has followed the rule of São Bento, and Benedictine monks still live there today.
In the 8th century, the widow and son of King Fruela I das Astúrias, the future Afonso II, the Chaste, took refuge in Samos, which granted the monastery royal protection and surrounding lands. Over the centuries the monastery was rebuilt several times, including after a fire in 1951.
The current complex is mainly from the 16th to the 18th centuries. It has two cloisters: the das Nereidas, Gothic and Renaissance, with a fountain of mythological figures in the centre, and the large cloister, one of the biggest in Spain, with murals painted in the 20th century about the life of São Bento. The church, Baroque, has a façade with a double staircase.
Visits are guided, at set times. The monastery keeps a pilgrims' guesthouse, and nearby, among trees, is the small pre-Romanesque Chapel of the Cipreste.
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
About 1 hour, with the guided tour.
Best time
In the morning or afternoon, at the times of the guided visits; check before you go. Arriving on foot via the Camino variant early lets you see the monastery from above, down in the valley.
How to get there
It's about 12 km from Sarria, via the LU-633 road, roughly 15 minutes by car or taxi. There are buses with limited schedules. Pilgrims arrive via the Camino variant between Triacastela and Sarria.
Tip
Stop at the roadside viewpoint before you reach the village: from there you can see the whole monastery, at the bottom of the valley.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Mosteiro de Samos
Does the mosteiro de Samos still have monks?
Yes, Benedictine monks live in the monastery, which is one of the oldest in Spain, with a foundation attributed to the 6th century.
How to get from Sarria to Samos?
By car or taxi, about 12 km, roughly 15 minutes, or by bus with limited schedules. Pilgrims arrive via the Camino variant.
What to see at the mosteiro de Samos?
The two cloisters: the das Nereidas, with the fountain, and the large cloister with murals about São Bento, and the Baroque church.