The best places in Spain: Lugo

What to see in Las Catedrales Beach and tips to prepare your visit

- Tides and waves: Before planning your visit, you should check the daily tide schedule (it changes every day) as the beach can only be visited when the tide is at its lowest. At high tide the beach disappears completely, while during the 30-60 minute period of time when the tide is at its lowest, you can walk along the entire coastline all the way to the nearby villages.

- Walking route: At low tide, you can walk from Las Catedrales beach to the nearby beaches (almost all of them can be reached very quickly on foot): To the east is Carricelas Beach, Esteiro Beach, Playa das Covas, Seborro Beach, Dos Castros Beach (Os Castros), Marbadás Beach, Os Castros Viewpoint (Miradoiro da Praia dos Castros) and further on, Os Xuncos Beach, all equally beautiful. Along the way you can pass through various nooks and crannies and natural caves where you can enter and see beautiful scenery.

Depending on the tide, it may not be possible to reach Os Castros, as at many times the water may cover you above your waist, and the waves can be strong, so if the sea is not calm, you cannot go all the way.

In addition, the sea level rises and falls very quickly, so it may be possible that you can go from Las Catedrales to Os Castros along the seashore, but you cannot return, and in that case, you will have to go back along a path that is further up, behind the cliffs. In any case, it is well worth a visit. The visit can take between 1 and 3 hours.

- Reservations: To be able to access the beach, you must book your ticket well in advance (usually one or two weeks in advance) as they sell out very quickly. Reservations can be made through the Xunta de Galicia website. At the entrance there are guards who will check that only those who have booked a reservation can access the sand.

- How to get there: You can get there by public transport or by car. If you choose to go by car, there are free parking spaces in open spaces very close to the site, as well as bars where you can have a coffee or something to eat. It is advisable, if you go by car, to arrive and park a while before the time of low tide, in order to be at the site in good time and to avoid the car park getting full.

- Swimming in the sea:

- Other nearby beaches and landscapes: Although Las Catedrales Beach is probably the most famous and photographed beach in Galicia, the truth is that in Galicia, as well as in Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, you can find many other beaches almost as beautiful and with much less people. It is therefore advisable to find out about the beaches and nature trails in the areas you are going to visit, as you will certainly be surprised.

Situated in the northwest of Spain, Galicia region, on the bank of the River Miño with a population of about 100,000 inhabitants, Lugo city has a lot of to offer visitors in culture, architecture, gastronomy, nature, festivals, sport, parks, and above all, its historic Roman wall, which was declared a Heritage World site in 2000 by UNESCO. Moreover. Lugo is surrounded by breathtaking landscape of natural beauty, forming part of the reserve of the biosphere “Land of the Miño”.

Lugo was founded about the year 14 before Christ by the Romans, who called it Lucus Augusti, and constructed the Roman wall in the mid 3th century. The Suevi ( Suevos) arrived in Lucus Augusti in the mid 5th century and destroyed the town, although the Roman wall was not demolished. After that, the Visigoths were in Lugo until 714 that the town was invaded by the Muslims. Afterwards, Alfonso I king of Asturias ( 693-757 ) reconquered Lugo in 755.

What to visit in Lugo City

The Roman Wall of Lugo was built between the years 263 and 276 AD in order to defend Lucus Augusti, although the fortified wall was not enclosed the whole Roman town. In fact, a part of Lucus Augusti in the southeast of the town was left out of its circle.

Nowadays, the imposing Roman Wall is the most emblematic construction in Lugo, being the unique Roman wall in the world that the entire original perimeter survives intact. The fortified wall has a circular shape and its perimeter measures about 2,150 meters, its height is between 8 and 12 meters, and its width is more than 4 meters. There is a pedestrian street on the top of the wall that is highly popular among citizens and tourists because visitors can see a wonderful view of Lugo while they are walking over the wall. Moreover, the Roman wall has 10 gateways to enter the walled area and 6 staircases and a ramp to reach the pedestrian path over the Roman wall.

The Romans really left an unmistakable cultural imprint on Lucus Augusti such as, the Mosaics House whose remains tell us that it was built between 1st and 2nd centuries, here visitors can see wall paintings, mosaics, and remains of an important Roman house. It is in the walled area near the Town Hall. Outside the walled area in the south east on the bank of the Miño River are the Roman Baths ( Termas Romanas) built between 1st and 2nd centuries AD and the Roman Bridge built in the 1st century although it has been repaired several times.

If visitors take a leisurely stroll along its pedestrian streets and squares inside the walled area, they will be able to find some of the most remarkable buildings of Lugo, shops, markets, restaurants, typical bars with the famous tapas of octopus and tasty seafood, enjoyable places to rest and have fun.

Santa Maria Cathedral of Lugo was built between the 12th and 13th centuries in Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles, its main facade dating from 18th century in neoclassical style. The beautiful north gate of the Cathedral dating from 13th century in Romanesque style is worth a visit. Inside the Cathedral visitors should not miss the outstanding main altarpiece dating from 18th century, the amazing choir-stalls of 66 seats date about 1625; San Froilan Chapel from 17th century in Renaissance style; the Chapel of the Virgen de los ojos Grandes and the cloister are dated in the early 18th century in baroque style. Don’t forget that this Cathedral is on the primitive route of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

Episcopal Palace was built in the 18th century in Baroque style, it is in Santa Maria Square in front of the Magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria near Santiago Gateway.

Town Hall, which is one of the most beautiful buildings in Baroque style in Lugo, was built in the mid 18th century and the clock tower was added in the late 19th century. It is in the Mayor Square.

San Francisco Convent and Church were built in the 18th century in Gothic style. There is a beautiful cloister in Romanesque – Gothic style that is worth visiting. The Convent’s building is used as Provincial Museum where mosaics, paintings, coins, and other interesting Roman things can be seen free.

Arde Lucus Festival

Arde Lucus is a popular festival for citizens, tourists who want to know and enjoy a real Roman life. Therefore, Lugo really goes back to two centuries ago and becomes Augusti Lucus once a year in June when the Arde Lucus Festival is celebrated. In fact, local people and visitors must wear Roman fancy dresses in order to perform several aspects of daily life of the inhabitants of Augusti Lucus. As for the town, it is plenty of taverns, street markets, live music, dances and all sorts of Roman entertainments. By the way, the Arde Lucus Festival certainly attracts more than 500,000 people every year. Obviously, it is well worth visiting.

Anyway, If you are thinking of enjoying Galicia, we certainly suggest visiting Lugo during the next Arde Lucus on 19th, 20th and 21st of June, 2015.

Lugo is 500 Km. from Madrid.