What to see in the ancient Roman city of Lugo, Galicia
The first and most impressive sight of Lugo is its 1700 year old Roman city walls which are still structurally complete. The walls enclose the historic old town, whilst new developments have stayed on the outside. You can actually walk on top of the entire length of the city wall. There are ten different gates offering the only means of access into the original town.
The old town has numerous interesting streets leading to open squares and small gardens. The largest square is surrounded by impressive buildings. The grandest of them is ‘Prazo Mayor’ and is a great place for people-watching whilst enjoying a good coffee in one of the many surrounding bars. The old world charm extends to other squares and streets, especially around the cathedral area. Lugo has an air of spaciousness; the small scale of most of the buildings relieves a ‘corridor effect’, caused by the numerous tiny streets.
This endearing walled town, Galicia’s oldest provincial capital, is crying out to be explored. Neoclassical, Gothic and even going back as far as the Celts and Romans, many different peoples had a hand in shaping this town and province.
In fact, Galicia itself is a very distinct area, you will not hear much English spoken, and the food, which is delightful, should definitely be experienced.
In the region of Lugo there are plenty of old monasteries, convents, Celtic villages called ‘Castros,’ mountain views and idyllic deserted beaches to explore. Lugo can be easily reached in just over an hour from the region’s premier city, Santiago de Campostela. A magnet of pilgrims for centuries, on the “way of St. James” (the pilgrim’s route to Santiago), Santiago de Campostela it is home to the area’s nearest international airport.
When you’re in Lugo, take the time to visit the “Palacio Episcopal Cathedral, and the beautiful gardens of Rosalia de Castro. Also take time to visit the Barrio del Puente outside the walls. Lugo is also a site of natural thermal springs; the Romans built a spa complex that heated their water.
If you are visiting Galicia sometime soon, here are two ideal bases from which explore this incredible area of Spain.
With five bedrooms and two bathrooms, Muiño de San Lorenzo is an excellent base from which to set out and explore Galicia. This wonderful restored mill house straddles a stream and is secluded below wooded slopes, yet is only fifteen minutes from Santiago de Campostela.
This property has seven bedrooms and two bathrooms; it is an historic 200 year old residence that’s oozing elegance, with exposed stone, and archways, extensive garden and great pool.