The church and convent of St Francis are situated on the left-hand side of the River Avia, across from the main town of Ribadavia.

According to some it was around in old Ribadavia, which was then called by its ancient name ‘Rippa Avie’, and was an early parish in the time of Garcia I, the King of Galicia at the time.

The convent was situated in Santa Marta, in a deserted and lonely place above the River Miño. It is now a college of arts for secondary education, which previously was very religious though is now much more secular.