Santa María de Melide

Santa María de Melide is a Romanesque church in the municipality of Melide, A Coruña, Galicia, dating to the twelfth century and considered the oldest church in the municipality. It stands at the edge of the town on the Camino Frances and provides the main architectural monument associated with the medieval pilgrimage heritage of Melide.

The church retains a Romanesque apse, portal with archivolt decoration, and carved capitals of notable quality. The simple stone exterior has the austere character typical of the Galician Romanesque school, without the elaboration of the larger regional Romanesque monuments but with a direct and powerful quality.

For pilgrims, Santa María de Melide provides a moment of Romanesque architectural encounter within the town context, its age and quality distinguishing it from the more modest churches along the stages between Sarria and Santiago.