The Famous Walled City of Lugo
Lugo is a small city in central Galicia, about 100 km east of Santiago de Compostela. This historic city is full of ancient wonders — walls and Roman baths, a magnificent cathedral and delicious regional cuisine. Here are our 12 reasons why you should tour the famous walled city of Lugo at least once.
To see the most complete Roman walls in Europe
Built by the Romans in the late 3rd and 4th centuries, the walls are one of the best examples of Roman construction in Europe — a UNESCO World Heritage Site, about 2,117 m long. Locals use them as a park for evening walks or to walk the dog.
To explore the old town
Inside the walls, Lugo's old town is small but full of Baroque, Gothic and Roman architecture, a maze of narrow streets and pretty squares — great to get lost in.
To step back in time
Lugo has so many ancient sights and historic buildings, it feels like going back to Roman times.
To enjoy its delicious cuisine
Lugo is known across Galicia for its tasty regional food — fresh seafood from the Cantabrian Sea, meats, dairy and fresh vegetables. The saying goes "And for eating, Lugo". Try Galician empanadas, boiled octopus and seafood.
To buy traditional crafts
Lugo is a good place to buy Galician crafts — ceramics, carved stone, handmade furniture and textiles. The old town has the most authentic shops.
To visit its magnificent cathedral
Lugo's cathedral, Santa María, was originally built in the 12th century in Romanesque and Gothic style. The grand neoclassical façade is by Sánchez Bort and dates to 1769.
To learn more about Roman history at the Casa de los Mosaicos
Underground, the Casa de los Mosaicos was once a rich Roman's home — remains of an original mosaic called Domus Oceani with geometric forms and motifs. An AV display shows how the house looked.
To visit some of the region's most beautiful churches
Some of the best: the Lorenzana church and monastery, the Carmel chapel, San Domingo, San Roque and San Pedro.
To walk over a Roman bridge
It's not often you can walk over a roughly 2,000-year-old bridge. Lugo's Roman bridge crosses the Miño river with six elegant arches.
To visit the ancient Roman Baths
Just outside the walls inside the Hotel Balneario de Lugo. The Roman-era population used them to bathe, relax in steam rooms and visit cold rooms for circulation.
Provincial Museum
In some rooms of the old Convent of San Francisco plus a new building. Great view of the area's history — religious art, ceramics, glass, painting and sculpture.
To visit the Ribeira Sacra region
The Ribeira Sacra is a natural area of forests, meadows and rugged gorges not far from Lugo. Known for nature, vineyards and wineries.
