Samos, Galicia, Spain

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Samos is a village in the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.

In Samos there is the abbey, the Real Abadía de Samos, and the Benedictine monastery of San Xulián de Samos. Pilgrims on the Way of St. James to Compostela often pass through Samos to come to the abbey and monastery. There is a refuge that the pilgrims can use freely at the monastery.

The limits of Samos are in the North, with the municipality of Láncara; in the South, Folgoso do Courel and A Pobra do Brollón; in the East with Triacastela, Pedrafita do Cebreiro and Folgoso do Courel; and in the West with Sarria and O Incio. Samos belongs to the judicial party of Sarria and to the diocese (province of the Church) of Lugo.

Samos is located at the Oriental mountains of Galicia (mountains of Lóuzara, Serra do Oribio and Mountains of Albola). The mean altitude is over 700 m. and the highest heights are located in the mountain named "O Oribio", at 1.443 m. River Sarria, tributary of river Miño, collects the waters from the western slopes of the mountains; the river Lóuzara collects the eastern slopes flowing to river Lor and then to river Sil. There are 3 well differentiated areas: the central one, where the population is mainly located; the north area, more open and with smooth slopes, and Lóuzara, the southern area, with never-ending mountains and valleys. The thermic oscillation is high (13°C), with cold winters, when the fields are frequently frozen. The annual rates of rain vary from 900 to 1.500 mm a year.

The municipality extends over 136 km² and the nearest town is Lugo, 43 km away.