Lugo

A historic inland city encircled by the best-preserved and only complete Roman walls in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site you can walk along in full. Its compact old town offers charming plazas, cathedrals and traditional taverns.

Things to do

• Walk the Roman Walls — Circle the 2,117-metre, 2nd-century Muralla de Lugo, the only completely intact Roman wall circuit in the world, for panoramic views over the old town and Miño valley.
• Visit the Cathedral of Santa María — Explore this Romanesque-Baroque cathedral with its Chapel of Corpus Christi, where the Blessed Sacrament is displayed continuously as a rare Vatican privilege.
• Relax in Praza Maior — Sit beneath the plane trees of Lugo's grand main square, lined with cafés and framed by the Concello and Iglesia de San Pedro.
• See the Roman Baths — Peek into the ruins of the ancient thermal baths beside the river, evidence of Lugo's origins as the Roman settlement of Lucus Augusti.
• Browse the Museo Provincial — Housed in the former Convent of San Francisco, this museum displays Roman mosaics, Galician ceramics and local archaeology.
• Wander Praza do Campo — Stroll through this lively medieval square with its central fountain, a hub for tapas bars and street life in the old town.
• Stroll along the Miño riverside — Follow the paths and Roman bridge over the Río Miño just outside the walls for a quieter, green escape from the old town.

Food to try

• Free tapas culture — Order a drink at almost any bar in Lugo and you'll receive a generous free tapa, a beloved local custom rare elsewhere in Spain.
• Pulpo á feira — Tender boiled octopus sliced onto wooden plates, dressed with paprika, olive oil and coarse salt, a Galician classic found on many menus.
• Caldo gallego — A hearty broth of greens, potatoes, white beans and often pork, perfect for Lugo's cooler inland climate.
• Empanada gallega — Savory pie filled with tuna, cockles or pork, sold by the slice in local bakeries and taverns.
• Lacón con grelos — Cured pork shoulder simmered with turnip greens and potatoes, a traditional inland Galician dish especially popular around Lugo.
• Tarta de Santiago — A dense almond cake dusted with powdered sugar in the shape of St. James's cross, ideal with coffee after a meal.

Local customs & good to know

• Order a drink to eat well — Since tapas usually come free with drinks in Lugo, locals treat bar-hopping in the old town as an affordable way to sample many dishes.
• Walk the wall clockwise or counter — There's no fixed direction for walking the Roman walls, but early morning or evening offers the best light and fewer crowds.
• Respect siesta hours — Many small shops and some restaurants close in the early afternoon, reopening later for dinner service around 9pm.
• Galician is widely spoken — Signage and conversation often mix Galician and Spanish, and locals appreciate visitors attempting a few Galician words like 'grazas'.