Colegio de Nuestra Señora de la Antigua

Colecio de Nuestra Señora de la Antigua - Wikicommons Zarateman

The Camino de Santiago offers the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of a large number of localities. As pilgrims advance in their journey, they find that some of the best aspects of this fascinating experience are the landscapes and the great amount of history and monuments that hide some enclaves. Add to this the challenge of completing each stage and you have a feat that will be impossible to forget.

Galicia is considered one of the most magical and mysterious regions of the Iberian Peninsula. It embraces such a number of historical heritages that it would be impossible to discover all its secrets in a few days. But if we are enthusiasts of history and legends, Lugo is one of the municipalities that we have to take into account if we have the possibility to visit the region, as there are several buildings of incalculable historical and cultural value, such as the Colegio de Nuestra Señora de la Antigua.

It is also known as the Galician Escorial due to its architectural style.

The Colegio de Nuestra Señora de la Antigua is located in the city of Monforte de Lemos, Lugo. It is a striking building dating from the 16th century and is located in the Campo de la Compañía. Although today it is used by the Pious Schools to teach religious classes, it was built for the protection of the "last great prince of the Renaissance", Rodrigo de Castro.

Of a clear Herrerian style, the Colegio de Nuestra Señora de la Antigua is also popularly known as 'El Colegio de los Escolapios' and as 'El Escorial gallego' by many civilians in the area. Inside, we also discover a church with an impressive wooden altarpiece created by Francisco de Moure; the school and a picture gallery where several grecos are preserved.