The city of Lugo was "formally" founded by the Romans sometime around 70 B.C.. Today,
it has a population of approximately 85.000 people.
The wall was built by the Romans as a way of keeping the city safe from enemy attacks.
Lugo is located on a hill and the wall surrounds its top. During the following centuries,
numerous modifications and repairs were needed to preserve it, but it still stands
today as the most prominent symbol of the city. It has a perimeter of around 2.200
meters. It surrounds the "downtown" part of the city and it has several entrances.
It is one of the favourite places for the city residents (called "lugueses" or "lucenses")
to take casual walks, jog, walk the dog, etc.
Inside this roman wall, you will find a beautiful Romanesque cathedral.
Any one of the wall's ten gates gives access to an urban network of quiet pedestrian
streets flanked by sober granite buildings. Some of the most emblematic is the Carmen
gate, traditionally used by the pilgrims who were heading for Santiago de Compostela;
the Nova gate, San Pedro gate or the Santiago gate, built in the 18th century and
which provides direct access to the Cathedral of Lugo.
The squares of Santo Domingo and España are two chief points in the centre. In the
latter stands the magnificent baroque façade of the CIty Hall, which dates from 1740,
and the adjoining clock tower, from the 19th century, although the original building
was erected by Pedro de Artigas in the 16th century. Next to the City Hall, sharing
the limelight in this landscaped square are the most elegant cafés in the city, as
well as sumptuous buildings such as the modernist Arts Circle.
These are natural spaces of great beauty, where a rich variety of aquatic flora and
fauna developed. The most striking element in these secluded spots is a number of
small lake-ecosystems that are hidden underneath the lush riverside vegetation and
that constitute strictly protected areas in the reserve. In addition to their importance
from an environmental point of view, the abundant rivers that drain Terras do Miño
are responsible for making this region the water supply for the whole province. The
recent declaration of this area as a Biosphere Reserve will allow a sustainable social-economic
development, while helping in the conservation of its natural resources and habitats.
Among its various important monuments it has the only complete round roman wall ("muralla")
in Spain.
Terras do Miño Biosphere Reserve
The islands of Miño, located within the river course, have luxuriant forests and
inland pools, with important aquatic flora and fauna. The upper Miño River marks
the boundaries of a vast territory known as Terras do Miño. Declared a Biosphere
Reserve in 2002, this territory reflects the perfect integration between traditional
rural villages and important Atlantic ecosystems.
Terras do Miño takes up an extensive strip of land in the central-northern part of
Lugo, by the upper basin of the Miño River. The 26 municipalities included in this
region have a long farming and cattle-raising tradition. Together, they take up a
third of the total surface area of the province. From its source, the Miño River
crosses a landscape formed by mountains and valleys, where pastures and farmlands
share the centre stage with very valuable natural habitats.
The importance of the typical fragas (oceanic forests) must be mentioned, which contain
wetland species such as oak, chestnut, holly and birch watercourse.
