There is a great lack of knowledge of the history of Moraime and the role that it played in the past as the religious and administrative centre of a large territory that extended from the lower reaches of the river Anllóns to Fisterra. As well as being a noted authority on religious affairs, the abbot of this monastery also had considerable political and administrative power over this western region. The lack of signage and publicity regarding the heritage of this important historical and architectural ensemble and the fact that its magnificent Romanesque church is not open to the public mean fewer visitors come to Moraime than it deserves.
The Benedictine monks of this monastery were the ones to spread Christianity and create new parishes on Costa da Morte. They founded important religious centres, such as the aforementioned sanctuary of Our Lady of A Barca in Muxía to bring Christianity into ancient pagan cults through the appearance of notable figures of the Catholic Church, such as the Virgin, the Apostle James and Christ, giving pilgrims a reason to come to this area—the origin of the present-day Way of St James between Fisterra and Muxia.
The history of Moraime goes beyond the founding of the monastery. In 1972 archaeological excavations were made directed by Manuel Chamoso Lamas, where the remains of a Roman house were discovered (various structures and a hypocaust) and numerous objects from the late Roman period. All these remains could point to the existence of a Roman villa. In the same place a Visigoth necropolis was also found, composed of several tombs, as well as remains from that time.
There is no information on the founding of the Moraime monastery but its origins could go back to the 10th century. The first document that exists is from 1095. The original monastery was destroyed by the Almoravids at the beginning of the 12th century and then a new one was built with aid from King Alphonso VII, who spent some time in his childhood at this religious centre in Muxía. After the granting of properties and privileges by some monarchs, the religious community of Moraime came to suffer times of abuse and attacks from the local nobility, until its incorporation into the monastery of San Martiño Pinario in Santiago de Compostela.
Out of this entire historical and artistic ensemble, only the magnificent Romanesque church, dating from the late 12th century, has been preserved. It is in the form of a basilica, with three naves and three apses. Its notable features are the west door and the extraordinary south door, which has a depiction of the Last Supper on the tympanum. Inside, as well as its excellent collection of capitals, of note are the interesting 15th century Gothic paintings depicting scenes of the seven deadly sins and death, which were discovered in the 1960s. The ensemble is rounded off by the old priest’s house, built in the mid-18th century.
