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Patrimonio
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2005 © Oficina Virtual de Turismo
Lugo was founded around the year 15 BC, and soon became the capital of northern
Gallaecia. Three centuries later, important urban reforms took place,
and a wall of slate and granite was erected around it. It had a perimeter of
2266 metres, it was 6 metres thick, and its average height was 10 meters up to
the adarve (the walkway at the top of the wall).
Originally, the wall had 85 semicircular towers that rose two or three storeys
over the adarve; the remains of one of them can still be seen. The bases of
these towers are better preserved, and today 71 of them can be counted, and
imparting to the fortress its unmistakable character. Of the Roman gates, three
are preserved with few modifications, and another, Porta Miñá, with
its original structure practically intact. Many of the primitive stairways, one
for each tower, are also preserved and visible for the most part. The adarve is
about four metres wide, and is an extraordinary traditional promenade, reached
by relatively modern stairways attached to the interior side of the wall.
During the day, it is the best vantage point over the Old Town; at night,
thanks to discreet lighting, it is a poetic promenade pervaded with mystery.
However, Roman Lugo amounts to more than the wall. Under the modern city lies
the ancient Lucus Augusti , which the great number of archaeological
remains unearthed confirm to have been a full Roman city, since it has most of
its defining elements (forum, paved streets, thermae, temples, necropolis,
aqueduct...). Some of these remains can be seen at the Porta Miñá Exhibition
hall, at the Museo Provincial, and also in situ, for instance at the Batitales
Archaeological Centre.
 Over the Miño is the Roman bridge, and next to it
the thermae and their health-restoring waters. 14 kilometres from Lugo is the
mysterious sanctuary of Santa Eulalia de Bóveda, also unique in these
parts of the world. It is a small late-Roman building of great architectural
interest, that also contains some splendid mural paintings.
Medieval Lugo has left three magnificent buildings for posterity: the Gothic
church of the convent of the Dominicans; the magnificent temple, also Gothic,
and the Romanesque style cloister of the old convent of the Franciscans; but
above all, the Cathedral, Romanesque and Gothic for the most part, but with
later additions and reforms, among which the marvellous chapel of the Virgen de
los Ojos Grandes, first patron saint of the town, is outstanding.
The Baroque is also among the most interesting of Lugo's architectural periods.
From a large number of houses and urban palaces, we should feature the church
of San Froilán, the Episcopal Palace and the Town Hall, of which the
façade is considered by many to be the most beautiful example of civilian
Baroque architecture in Galicia.
The historic town within the walls, however, amounts to much more. Namely, the
medieval streets in the area surrounding the Cathedral, Miñá Gate and the axis
of Rúa Nova and Rúa de San Pedro; there is Del Campo Square, the old centre of
civilian life; there is the ever lively Main Square (Praza Maior), clearly the
vital centre of Lugo today, presided by the Town Hall, Baroque; there is De la
Reina Street a classic place for walks; there is Rosalía de Castro park, so
modernistic, with its views over the valley of the Miño...
Lugo is an absolute must for its Roman wall, unique in the world, but it is
also a beautiful and quiet town with so much to see.
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