La Ribeira Sacraentre el arte, la naturaleza y la ingeniería

Abstract

The inclusion of the region of Ribeira Sacra in Galicia as part of the tentative list for nomination as a World Heritage Site has led to a series of sectorial studies. These studies include aspects such as the Industrial Heritage and Public Works of the region, as outlined in this article and contributed to by the author. These studies have been made with a cross-disciplinary approach in conjunction with other studies on the art, economy, society, geography, landscape and soils of the region and are all currently serving for the drafting of the final report in accordance with Unesco guidelines. In addition to the uniqueness of the natural landscape, carved by the Miño and Sil Rivers, the region is noted for its spiritual landscape and the presence of monasteries and churches, which lend the region its name of Ribeira Sacra or “sacred shore”. The landscape has been further transformed by the terracing of the valley sides for the planting of vineyards, the introduction of paths, roads, bridges and railway lines that have overcome the geographical constraints and by hydroelectric dams, built between the latter part of the 1940s and the start of the 60s. These dams, while modifying the condition of the river courses, still retain the visual relationship between the surface of the rivers and their encompassing escarpments. The natural landscape and all these transformations have contributed to the formation of an exceptional cultural landscape.