Parador De Santo Estevo - Santo Estevo de Rivas de Sil

4-star monastery hotel in the Ribeira Sacra region with panoramic views of the Sil River Canyon

History & Architecture

Parador De Santo Estevo occupies a 10th-century Benedictine monastery, converted into a luxury hotel while preserving three original cloisters: Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance. The building retains stone archways, carved window frames, and a central grassed courtyard, now weatherproofed with glass enclosures. Informative historical displays throughout the property educate guests about the monastery's monastic past.

Rooms

Rooms are distributed along the three different cloisters, each uniquely designed with views of the Sil River or surrounding countryside. Some rooms include original stone fireplaces, and the Superior Double Room offers spacious sitting areas. The Parador also provides accessible rooms and family accommodations, with daily housekeeping and room service.

Dining

The on-site restaurant, Los Abades, serves regional Galician cuisine on a terrace overlooking the forest, using ingredients from the Miño and Sil rivers and the Galician coast. A café in one of the cloisters offers a second dining option, and the bar provides local wines such as the 9 Bispos tinto. Breakfast is a buffet with a wide variety, and the hotel can accommodate special diet menus upon request.

Wellness & Spa

The spa, located in the former wine cellars, features a thermal circuit with a hot tub, hammam, solarium, and foot bath. Guests can book a range of massages and treatments, or use the spa lounge and relaxation area. Separate access to the spa costs €30 per person; reservations are required in advance.

Location & Activities

The Parador de Santo Estevo sits in the Ribeira Sacra region, with direct access to hiking trails leading to a 6th-century fortress, an old mill, and a chestnut roasting hut. The Sil River Canyon viewing points, such as Peñas do Castro and Pe do Home, are a short drive away and offer spectacular canyon views. Nearby wineries produce Ribeira Sacra Designation of Origin wines, and historical Romanesque buildings are concentrated in the area.

• Location: Secluded mountain setting in Ribeira Sacra, 30 min from Ourense
• Rooms: 50+ rooms distributed along three historic cloisters
• Dining: Los Abades restaurant with terrace and regional Galician cuisine
• Wellness: Spa with thermal circuit, hammam, and treatments in former wine cellars
• Activities: Hiking trails to historic ruins and Sil River Canyon viewpoints
• History: Converted 10th-century Benedictine monastery with three cloisters

License number: H-OR-000618