Monasterio de Poio

Monasterio de Santa María la Real de Poio is a Mercedarian monastery situated on the southern bank of the Lérez estuary, in the municipality of Poio, Pontevedra. The monastery has origins in the twelfth century and its current complex includes Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque elements.

The principal architectural highlight is the Romanesque cloister, with its carved capitals and arcaded galleries, one of the most complete surviving examples of Romanesque monastic architecture in Galicia. The monastery also houses a remarkable large-scale mosaic world map in the floor of one of its chambers, depicting the pilgrimage routes to Santiago in an unusual modern addition to the ancient fabric.

For pilgrims on the Camino Espiritual, the monastery is a significant spiritual waypoint and offers pilgrim hospitality. The riverside setting, with the Lérez estuary visible from the grounds, makes it one of the most atmospheric stops on this variant route.