The church of San Martiño de Dornelas, located in the municipality of Silleda, is an interesting Romanesque temple that has been preserved in good condition. Over time, it underwent very few significant changes; the main alterations were limited to the upper part of the façade and the construction of a sacristy next to the north wall of the apse. The building has a simple layout, with a single nave ending in a semicircular apse. An inscription on one of the stone blocks indicates the date of Era 1209 (year 1171), allowing for a fairly precise dating of the temple.
The western façade stands out for its main portal, one of the most valuable elements of the building. It consists of a flared doorway with two semicircular archivolts resting on columns decorated with vegetal and animal motifs. On both sides of the door there are blind niches, an uncommon feature in rural single-nave churches. The side walls contain small arrow slits and two doors, one of them now blocked up, while the eaves rest on simple stone corbels. The apse, raised on a double base and articulated by attached columns, is lit by a decorated Romanesque window.
Inside, the nave is covered with a wooden roof structure, while the apse combines a barrel vault in the straight section with a semi-dome in the curved area. Both spaces are connected by a semicircular triumphal arch supported by columns with vegetal capitals, one of which includes a curious monstrous figure. Thanks to its preservation and clear 12th-century chronology, this church is a valuable example of rural Galician Romanesque architecture and an interesting stop for those exploring the historical heritage of the region.
