Commemoration of the 900th Anniversary of Rovoyra Sacrata
On August 21, Ribeira Sacra commemorated the 900th anniversary of its name with an event at the Monastery of Santa María de Montederramo, organized by the Ribeira Sacra Tourism Consortium. Various dignitaries attended, including the President of the Ourense Provincial Council, Luis Menor; the Director General of Cultural Heritage, Mª del Carmen Martínez; and the Territorial Delegate of the Xunta in Ourense, Manuel Pardo.
The celebration marked an important milestone in the history of the region, as the term "Rovoyra Sacrata" was first documented in a historical text dated August 21, 1124. This document is one in which Queen Teresa of Portugal, along with Count Fernando Pérez and her son Alfonso Enríquez, donated the place of "Rovoyra Sacrata" to the Monastery of Santa María de Montederramo, with its boundaries located in the territory of Caldelas, and granted the same jurisdictional exemption privilege. Thus, the name first appeared, enduring over the centuries and becoming synonymous with the rich history and cultural heritage of Ribeira Sacra.
The event, which was also attended by the President of the Regulatory Council, Antonio Lombardía, included a guided tour of the monastery, followed by speeches from the attending authorities, a musical and dance performance, and concluded with a toast featuring wines from the D.O. Ribeira Sacra.
This celebration also highlighted Ribeira Sacra’s candidacy for UNESCO World Heritage status under the title 'Paisaxe da auga: Ribeira Sacra,' with the proposal set to be presented in February 2025. The candidacy, restructured following an initial review in 2020, emphasizes the historical and cultural connection between the landscape of Ribeira Sacra, shaped by water, and its inhabitants, representing an exceptional universal value.
In this regard, the President of the Ourense Provincial Council, Luis Menor, remarked: "We are in a unique place where the provinces of Ourense and Lugo converge, where history, nature, heritage, and a way of living and understanding life come together to give Ribeira Sacra its special aura, as viticulture is practiced in its breathtaking landscape: in a heroic manner."