The Neveiras de Fixó (ice pits) are located in the place of Millerada, in the heart of the O Candán mountain range, and constitute one of the most distinctive archaeological complexes associated with the production of snow and ice in Galicia. Dating from the 17th century, these structures were operated by the monks of the Monastery of Santa María de Aciveiro. Their strategic location near the Camiño Real or Camiño do Correo, which connected Aciveiro with the Ribeiro region, facilitated the transport and trade of snow, turning this activity into an important source of income for the monastery.
The complex consists of two large circular ice pits, similar to deep wells, excavated and prepared to store compacted snow during the winter. The snow was used both for the monastery’s own consumption and for sale, serving purposes such as food preservation, cooling drinks and dishes, preparing sorbets, and even therapeutic uses, which were common at the time. This practice reached its greatest development in the Iberian Peninsula between the 16th and 17th centuries, when the snow trade became an important economic activity.
Current restoration and enhancement works at the Neveiras de Fixó include archaeological excavations and studies of the surrounding area. These investigations have already identified the possible existence of a third ice pit, increasing the historical significance of the site. In addition, guided visits and educational activities are organised to help visitors understand these traditional constructions and the role they played in everyday life in historical Galicia.
Located in a mountain landscape of great natural beauty, the Neveiras de Fixó allow visitors to discover a now-disappeared activity closely linked to the use of natural resources and to monastic life in inland Galicia
