Conjunto Monumental de Hio - Crucero de Hio - CANGAS

On the road from Cangas to Bueu, before reaching Aldan, we turn left onto a cross that puts Hio, and follow the signs to the church of "O Hío".

San Andres de Hío is a very interesting for its ancient church. The church is a compendium of many different styles result of alterations and modifications that has suffered throughout its history. Maintains Romanesque facade decoration, the corbels of the roof and Latin cross. The interior features Gothic vaults of edge combined with coffered barrocasde -in the cruise and eldest chapel reminiscent of San Martin Pinario in Santiago de Compostela

Its Romanesque origin can be discovered still on its cover. It has a flared structure which is accentuated by two archivolts double torus supported by an impost. The capitals are vegetal decoration except one size ties. The shafts of the columns are smooth, with Tuscan sockets. The outer archivolt, which closes the whole band shaped small boceles banknotes decorated edge

The eardrum focuses all our interest given the reason represented: the X XRISTUS. On both sides of this, figures of children holding a book or instruments.

The reasons for the corbels are identical to those of Santa María de Cela.

The Church of Hío is important for its famous stone cross, the work of master Cerviño. The cruceiro, as Hippolytus of San Bravo says, is a theological poem written in stone.

It is perhaps the most important cruceiro of those preserved in Galicia. The originality and greatness of the work is obvious to the visitor.

In the late nineteenth century (1872), is markedly Baroque sculpture by the theater air imbues their joint author

We are, no doubt, to the most important popular monument in Galicia. It was made by master Cerviño and construction date we know thanks to the little angel who is at the top of a column next to her. In the scroll in his hand one can read: "Alms for the Blessed Christ of Light 1872". This was the date on which the Cruceiro opened to commemorate the feast of Christ.

The ground Cruceiro starts with an octagonal staircase three steps, which followed an altar on which the main structure of the work, composed based, shaft and sits cross. Each of these made in one piece.

The base consists of four niches oriented to the cardinal points. The south face of Eve shows at the time of being tempted with the apple snake. In this case you can make reading as of beginning and end, because if the cruceiro begins with Original Sin, just at the top, with the redemption of it, through the death on the cross the Son of God . The niche facing west form together with the previous one and represents Adam in Paradise. Here we are shown the scene when Jesus, having died on the cross, he goes to limbo to look for the Righteous to lead them to Heaven. At this point we must pay attention to how they are chiseled as the gates of Limbo. Looking to the church is the fourth niche that shows us the Virgen del Carmen as redeemer of the Souls of Purgatory. If you look, the figure that reaches out has a cap of cure.

The shaft in its lower part has an inscription in which a name, which may well be the Archbishop of Santiago, and under it a few letters which read as follows imagines, "he conceded hundred days of indulgence" and the Archbishop of the time granted mild hundred days of indulgence to any person to pray a creed before the Cruceiro. Up the column, we find Adam and Eve at the time of being expelled from paradise. It is advisable to see these images in profile, as they are bound to the column only by foot, this way we will realize how well they are carved the bodies of both figures. Above the previous set is the Immaculate Virgin defeating the serpent, who embodies evil. Such dedication displayed with their usual symbols made in this case of metal (lead): a crescent to the feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. At the top we see the Archangel Raphael taking a child by the hand, representing the innocence that is saved Evil and on the other side is the Archangel Michael who, as usual, is symbolized fighting the Devil. Finally, under the bracket holding the final set, are the four angels holding the holy city of Jerusalem.

At the top of the Desenclavo stone cross of Christ is re-enacted. This is the most important part of the whole. It is noteworthy as it was emptied single granite rock that brought LIMENS area. It is important that you stop to contemplate the details of the garments and the proportions of the bodies, but the bottom line is the expression that the author was able to give figures. Making a description of the scene, we see that Jesus is being removed from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. San Juan grabs below the feet, while Magdalena puts his hands to his head and the Virgin Mary kneeling looking down at his hands, we suppose, they put up with the crown of thorns. The scene is completed with two cherubs holding Nails (right) and INRI (the left one).