According to PETWITHSUPPLIES, the city of Lugo is the administrative center of the province of the same name, which is part of the autonomous region of Galicia. It is located in northwestern Spain on the banks of the Minho River. The city was founded in the 1st century BC. Romans and bore the name “Lucus Augusti”. For 3 centuries, the Romans built a powerful fortress wall around the settlement, which has survived to this day. Its thickness reaches 4 m, height – 12 m, length – 2.3 km, there are 71 towers and 10 gates. Today, the fortress wall of Lugo is the only one in the world included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Tourists are invited to climb the wall and see the entire Old Town of Lugo. The main attractions of the Old City are the Cathedral of the 12th century with a neoclassical facade and baroque and gothic elements inside; Archbishop’s Palace of the 18th century; the medieval church of San Pedro (15th century), which now houses a regional museum with a chic archaeological collection and a collection of paintings by Galician masters dating back to the 15th century; Piazza Santo Domingo and Plaza España with the 18th century Baroque City Hall and restaurants and cafes considered among the best in all of Galicia. Outside the walls, the Rosalia de Castro park is the most interesting. Here is an observation deck, from where views of the entire city and the Minho River open. Also in the park is the famous spa center Lugo. The local springs were discovered by the Romans, as evidenced by the preserved remains of the Roman baths of the 1st-2nd centuries. Local waters have a sulfate-bicarbonate-sodium composition and a temperature of +43.8 degrees. They are used in the treatment and prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and skin diseases. The center offers various types of showers, baths, massages, mud therapy, physiotherapy room, inhalation room and beauty treatments.
In the vicinity of Lugo, it is worth seeing the ruins of the pre-Romanesque church of Santa Eulalia (4th-5th centuries) in the town of Boveda, the Archaeological Museum in the town of Villalba, the remains of the Celtic settlements of “castros” in the village of Viladonga, the church of San Pedro (10th century) and San Juan (12th century) in the city of Portomarin and the Terras do Mino biosphere reserve, equipped in the upper reaches of the Minho River, where you will see dense forests fringing the banks of the river, and small islands where a variety of birds settle.
The province of Lugo also boasts picturesque landscapes. Most of the province is occupied by mountains that descend to the north, passing into the coast of the Rias Altas. Very popular among tourists are trips along the spurs of the Cantabrian Mountains, which form the eastern border of the province, the Sierra do Courel and Serra dos Ancares ranges. In the Sierra do Courell interesting hiking trails of medium difficulty are laid along the valley of the Lor River. Here you will see ancient Celtic fortifications, medieval churches built on the pilgrimage Way of St. James, and traditional Galician dwellings of these places – “pallazo” – stone houses 4-5 m high, with a large bizarre thatched roof. In the Sierra do Courell, it is worth visiting the village of Samos, where the monastery of San Julián is located. In the Middle Ages, the monastery was one of the most important European cultural centers. Its 54 m long cloister is considered one of the largest in Spain.. Nearby, in the village of O Cebreiro, there is an ethnographic park with pallazo dwellings, and the 9th century church of Santa Maria la Real, which is the oldest intact shrine on the pilgrimage route of St. James. Be sure to take a trip through the Rogueira forest, where you will see many mountain rivers, waterfalls and lakes. To the north of the Sierra do Courel stretches the Serra dos Ancares ridge, on whose slopes there is a biosphere reserve (Los Ancares biosphere reserve), created under the auspices of UNESCO. The reserve covers an area of 110.5 thousand hectares and extends into the provinces of Lugo and Leon. Rare brown bears and capercaillie are protected in the reserve. Hiking trails are laid on the territory of the reserve. In addition, a national hunting reserve has been set up here, where you can hunt roe deer, mountain goats, wild boars and partridges. Trout fishing is also offered in the local rivers.
To the north near the coast, it is worth visiting the mountain villages of Lorenza and Mondoñedo (Mondonedo), which are stopping points on the pilgrimage Way of St. James. Lorenzana has a 10th century Benedictine monastery of San Salvador with a museum of religious art. The city of Mondoñedo was the capital of Galicia in the past. Of interest here is the Cathedral of San Martino, which was built between the 13th and 18th centuries and is now a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles. The museum of religious art located in the cathedral is considered one of the largest in Spain.
In the north of the province of Lugo stretches a section of the Galician coast Rias Altas, which is washed by the waters of the Bay of Biscay. Here, in the estuary of the Landro River, the city of Vivero is located. (Viveiro), which boasts not only beaches, but also its architectural monuments. In the Old Town of Vivero, the remains of medieval fortifications and three gates have been preserved, among which are the gates of Charles V with the coats of arms of monarchs, the kingdom and the city, the Romanesque churches of Santa Maria (12th century) and San Pedro (10th century) and the monastery of San Francisco (14th century). Be sure to visit the observation deck, located on top of Mount San Roque, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the coast. The most popular beaches of Vivero are the beaches of Covas (Praia Covas) and Area (Praia Area) with a length of several kilometers with a developed infrastructure. During the summer they are overcrowded with tourists. If you want to relax in silence, then Portonovo beach on the outskirts of the city. 6 km from Vivero on an area of 32 thousand square meters. m stretches the oldest eucalyptus forest in Europe – Souto da Ritorta. Some trees reach a height of 80 m. Hiking trails are laid through the forest. Also not far from Vivero in the town of Cervo, it is worth visiting the Sargadelos Ceramic Factory. It was founded in the early 19th century. Ceramic products produced from white clay at the factory are considered among the most beautiful in Spain.
On the border with the autonomous region of Asturias is the resort town of Ribadeo (Ribadeo). Ribadeo is located in the estuary of the river Eo. It is famous for its beaches, which stretch in the western part of the city. The beaches have everything you need for a comfortable stay: bars and cafes, changing rooms, showers, rescue services and parking lots. Ribadeo is home to one of the most picturesque beaches in Galicia – the 1.5-kilometer long Catedrais (Praia de Catedrais). It is surrounded by stone arches, which were “carved” into the rocks by the forces of the wind and waters of the Bay of Biscay. The promenade stretches along the entire beach. Next door is another popular beach – Los Castros. (Los Castros), awarded the Blue Flag. At low tide, the beach is connected by a narrow strip of sand to Das Illas. In the vicinity of these two beaches, you will find many more small cozy bays where you can have a great rest. In addition, the Rio Eo, Osco y Terras de Buron Biosphere Reserve Information Center is located in Ribadeo. The reserve is located on the border of the regions of Galicia and Asturias on an area of 160 thousand hectares. It is designed to protect the biodiversity of the mouth and basin of the Eo River, which flows into the Bay of Biscay, and the rivers flowing nearby. The Estuary of the Eo is the largest salmon fishing center in Spain. In addition, many birds live here.
