PLACES OF INTEREST
Santa María Cathedral: Lugo’s current cathedral is the second largest in Galicia, after the one in Santiago de Compostela. Construction work began in 1129, and the original Romanesque arms of the transept, the three naves with their triforium and the magnificent North door are still intact. The three original apses were replaced by five in the Gothic style and an ambulatory. The 18th century saw the addition of a splendid Baroque chapel: the Virgin of the Big Eyes, the work of Fernando de Casas, the architect who also designed the Obradoiro façade of Santiago Cathedral. The façade is Neoclassical. Other highlights include the Neoclassical high altar, with a monstrance on permanent display; the choir stalls, crafted by Francisco de Moure in the early 17th century, and the cloister, also by Fernando de Casas and which dates back to the beginning of the 18th century.
The Primitive Way of Saint James: Considered to be the first pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, in 2015 it was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Much of this route runs along ancient Roman roads.
Historic Quarter: The city’s historic quarter is filled with archaeological remains related to the Roman city (the Roman pool, the Roman aqueduct, Santa María Square, Do Campo Square and Miño district, the Provincial Council House, Pío XII Square, La Reina, Progreso and San Marcos streets, the City Hall and Campo Castelo).
Church of San Froilán: Dedicated to Lugo’s patron saint, it is built in the Baroque style, as is the Chapel of San Roque
Church of San Pedro: In addition to the church, several areas of the convent remain, such as the kitchen, refectory and cloister, which currently form part of the Provincial Museum. It was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931.
Church of Santo Domingo: A fine example of Mendicant Gothic architecture, originally part of the Dominican convent, and today home to nuns from an enclosed order.
Rosalía de Castro Park: Dedicated to the Galician poet.
Roman baths: The remains of the ancient Roman baths are located on the banks of the River Miño, just a short distance from the Roman bridge. They were declared a Historic-Artistic monument in 1931 and today form part of the Lugo Spa Hotel.
Archaeological sites: The Roman swimming pool in Santa María, the remains of the aqueduct in San Marcos, mosaics on Doutor Castro Street and the walls in a building below Santo Domingo
O Vello Cárcere (the former prison): Designed by architect Nemesio Cobreros in 1878, this was Spain’s second model prison and the first to be built in the panopticon style. Today the building houses one of the city’s principal cultural and tourist centres.
Via XIX and the Roman bridge: The Via XIX, part of the Antonine Itinerary, was built in the early 1st century CE to connect Lvcvs Avgvsti and Bracara Augusta. It begins at the Porta Miñá gate before making its way down to the bridge over the River Miño, along a fossilised path on the ancient Rego dos Hortos way. The Romans built a large granite bridge across the river, and today several sections of the original Roman masonry can still be seen.
MUSEUMS
The Mosaic Museum: musealisation in situ of a large Roman domus.
San Roque Archaeology Centre: musealisation in situ of the remains of a Roman necropolis.
The Wall Visitor and Interpretation Centre: archaeological remains and an audiovisual installation. Adjacent to the Municipal Tourism Office in Do Campo Square.
Diocesan Museum: located in the Cathedral triforium, the exhibits include religious artworks and important archaeological remains such as the Quiroga Monogram of Christ and the Saamasas Visigoth reliefs.
Lugo Interactive History Museum (MIHL in its Spanish initials): this newly created museum is housed in an avant-garde building semi-buried in La Milagrosa Park.
Lugo Provincial Museum: this museum houses many fine examples of Roman epigraphic remains and sculptures, and well as an important collection of pre-Roman gold objects, as well as exhibits dating back to the Bronze Age and the culture surrounding the fortified settlements of this period. The museum stands in La Soledad Square.
Mithras Domus University Museum: musealisation in situ of a Roman villa including an outstanding temple of Mithras.
Porta Miñá Exhibition Hall: this venue houses a collection of archaeological remains dating back to the days of Roman Lugo. It is located next to Porta Miñá, the wall’s best-conserved gate.
ROUTES
The Miño Riverbanks, Upstream: an 11 km route along both banks of the River Miño, contained by several dams and flanked by large expanses of meadows and pasturelands in rich shades of green all year round.
River Rato Walk: A 4 km walk just outside the city, along the River Rato from the railway bridge as far as the confluence with the River Miño. This route takes walkers along landscaped paths lined by oak trees.
Miño River, downstream: A 3 km walk along a wide calm stretch of the river, from the Roman remains to the mouth of the River Rato. The route is dotted with interesting dams and ancient fishing reserves.
Ancient Agricultural Lugo: a 5 km circular route departing from the Bóveda Roman temple, passing by the Romanesque Church of Bacurín.
The Watermill River: 4 km along the banks of the final stretch of the River Mera, among oak trees and wooded areas, as well as watermills and small dams.
NEAR LUGO
Viladonga Iron Age Fortified Settlement: magnificent remains of a fortified settlement dating back to the Iron Age, whose people ruled in Galicia before the Roman conquest and who would continue to prosper for several more centuries. The facilities include an excellent themed museum.
Santa Eulalia de Bóveda Roman Temple: a small site with a central pool, related to the Roman culture of water. It is one of very few monuments of this kind to be built in the Roman Empire. It remained buried for centuries, until its discovery in 1926. The cupola conserves some elaborate late Roman murals.
The River Miño: nestling below the city of Lugo, the River Miño and its tributaries the Rato and the Mera mark the area just outside the city; a splendid countryside setting with a wealth of oak groves and wooded areas (a mix of deciduous trees).
